News and Announcements
TESDA-ARMM holds training on photovoltaic technology
COTABATO CITY – How is sunlight converted to electricity? How many photovoltaic modules are needed to generate 1-Kw of electricity? What happens if the battery system is over-charged? These are just some of the questions that are going to be answered in the next few days as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-ARMM train more than 20 of its technical personnel and instructors on the basics of photovoltaic (PV) technology and systems.
TESDA ARMM Executive Director Omar Shariff Jaafar cut the ribbon during the opening program of the five-day Technical Training on PV Technology and Systems. With Director Jaafar are (l-r) Regional Manpower Development Complex (RMDC) Administrator Bangon S. Sumonsang, TESDA ARMM Regional Operations Chief Omarkhayyam Dalagan, AMORE Director for Technical-Engineering David P. Balleza, PV Expert Peter Konings, and AMORE Institutional Development Unit Manager Reuben Emmanuel T. Quejas.
Training in-house technicians and instructors is the first step in the agency’s efforts to integrate into the TESDA educational system the three national PV systems training courses – design, installation, servicing – ratified by the TESDA Board of Directors in December 2008.
In cooperation with the Alliance for Mindanao and Multi-Regional Renewable/Rural Energy Development (AMORE) Program, and the International Copper Association Southeast Asia Ltd. (Copper), TESDA-ARMM developed a fast tracked course where participants – who are technical albeit non-PV practitioners – will gain a working knowledge of and proficiency in PV. After equipping them with the necessary level of understanding of PV technology, the participants will later undergo another rigorous training, this time, on Assessment Methodology and Training Methodology that will make them able trainers and assessors, certified to conduct the three PV systems training courses of systems design, installation and servicing, both in-house with TESDA and within the TESDA-accredited technical and vocational institutes (TVIs).
Created by virtue of the Republic Act 7796 (Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the Philippines.
The capacity building activities are a major component of the work of the AMORE program. A rural electrification program that promotes the use of renewable energy technologies – solar PV and mini-grid systems – in energizing remote, off-grid communities, AMORE fills the gap in human resource by working with TESDA-ARMM in ensuring availability of a reliable pool of experts who will be able to respond to the need for PV expertise in Mindanao, and indeed, in the country.
In its work on capacitating individuals’ and organizations’ ability in rural renewable energy service delivery, AMORE has been working with Copper, a non-profit that promotes the use of copper worldwide, by facilitating the development of the work force through education and training.
To date, more than 14,000 households have been energized either from the AMORE program’s direct electrification or renewable energy supply delivery strengthening activities in Mindanao. AMORE is an alliance of the United States Agency for International Development, the Philippine Department of Energy, Sunpower Foundation, and Winrock International.
