PALIHAN Program

Designed for older street children and OSY, this one-year program consists of training in basic life skills and in a technical/vocational skill suited to the trainee’s aptitude, followed by in-plant training in a company partner’s workplace according to the Dual Training System.

The PALIHAN or Palitan ng Husay at Sanayan (Exchange of Skills and Expertise) Program is a short-term non-formal technical training program that aims to equip OSY with technical/vocational skills, basic life skills and desirable attitudes for them to be gainfully employed.  The program was initiated by the UNESCO in 1997 to assist the Philippine government in its poverty alleviation program specifically addressing the  growing number of street children and OSY in Metro Manila.

Out-of-school youth (OSY) and older street children (between 16 1/2-24 years old) can have the chance to become better members of society through ERDA TECH’s PALIHAN Program.

PALIHAN has graduated 1,267 trainees since its inception in 1997. And of the total graduates, 60% have been employed and are currently working.

Trainees undergo three phases that run from 8-10 months.  These phases include:

Expanded Values Education Program (EVEP) provides basic life skills while promoting positive values and enhancing the trainees’ own motivation to pursue stable work careers.

Skills Development and Training (SDT) provides basic skills on English and Mathematics and hands-on skills training on the course of their choice.

In-Plant Training (IPT) runs for 3-6 months at the workplaces of the industry partners.  During this period, trainees’ are given an opportunity to apply in actual workstations the basic technical/vocational skills they learned during the SDT.