IBM Phils-DSWD tech link-up ushers in bright opportunities for young girls at care facilities

IBM-Philippines and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have linked up a partnership that will sign up young girls at the care facilities to tech-based training and short courses by IBM’s ‘SkillsBuild’ learning program.

The initiative was introduced on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, to the beneficiaries of the Marillac Hills-National Training School for Girls (NTSG) as IBM Philippines and DSWD signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Skills Build System.

This tie-up project will bring out the best of the Department and IBM’ PHs intention to extend hope to the most vulnerable groups, said social welfare chief Rex Gatchalian in a statement, adding, “ang linya ng DSWD hindi lang kami tumutulong ng pang materyal kundi binabalik natin yung pag-asa sa bawat kliyente natin. At ngayong umaga labing-apat na malapit na mag-age out — ibig sabihin malapit na silang lumisan sa aming care facility — ang bibigyan natin ng sapat na kaalaman. [Bibigyan natin sila ng] sapat na interbensyon para bumalik yung pag-asa nila para magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan.”

Gatchalian emphasized that the initiative takes shape from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s “big heart for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors”.

“Fourteen young ladies (victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation) currently living in one of DSWD's care facilities are now part of the IBM Philippines' SkillsBuild System,” Gatchalian said in his official Facebook page.

Under the IBM Philippines-DSWD partnership, the children, particularly from the Marillac Hills-NTSG will be the first batch from the agency-managed center and residential care facilities (CRCFs) who will undergo skills upgrade and earn digital certificates in tech-based fields.

“Alam naman natin ngayon, everything almost involves technology… Ang gusto natin nakakasabay ‘yung mga bulnerableng mga kliyente natin… dapat na bigyan natin ng sapat na armas at kaalaman para makasabay sila sa agos ng mundo,” the social welfare chief stressed.

IBM Philippines President and Country General Manager Aileen Judan-Jiao explained that the certificates and micro-credentials that the young girls will earn through the training program will be recognized by prospective employers both in the local and global landscapes.

“Yung aaralin ng mga kabataan natin dito ng ilang oras, kung saan gagabayan sila ng empleyado ng IBM, makakakuha sila ng digital micro credentials, parang maliit na diploma… pwede mo ipakita sa Facebook o sa LinkedIn, or pag mag-aapply ka ng trabaho,” she pointed out.

The IBM SkillsBuild offers over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, programming and coding and many other technical disciplines, as well as workplace skills.

Both IBM and DSWD sees this initiative as crucial in preparing children, who are approaching legal age, as they will eventually leave the facilities and journey toward independent living.

Truly, ‘Ice,’ among the Marillac Hills residents, turned excited with the program, citing she looks forward to the idea of working in the tech industry as a ‘possibility.’ “For me po kasi yung question is willing po ba ako magwork in technology, sa tingin ko po, pwede, kasi marami ka nang pwedeng malaman, marami ka ring pwedeng taong matulungan,” she said.



Earlier, DSWD partnered with Caritas Philippines Foundation Inc. to help the agency’s residents gain knowledge on values formation as part of a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.