TESDA holds meeting for construction sector stakeholders

February 27, 2023

The Technical Education and Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) gathered stakeholders from the construction sector to strengthen the implementation of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in the country.

Last February 17, TESDA, through its Partnership and Linkages Office (PLO), held the Organizational Meeting on the TESDA National Sectoral Industry Board for the Construction Sector inviting representatives from industry/employers’ groups, learning/academe institutions, workers groups, and national government agencies.

The organizational meeting aims to convey the importance of creating National Industry Boards (IBs) with the participation of TVET stakeholders.

The IBs serve as the voice through which the industries may raise their views and concerns to the government to pursue a sector-focused, policy-oriented, and labor market-driven approach in TVET planning, delivery, and implementation.

The NTESDP 2018-2022 has also highlighted the engagement with IBs as one of the strategies in response to the challenges to accelerate human capital development.

In his message, Director General Danilo P. Cruz highlighted the critical role of various industries in the governance of technical education and skills development in the country. He added that TESDA continues to establish IBs at the national, regional, and provincial levels.

“TESDA continues to work with various stakeholders and establishes partnerships that are geared towards the development of skilled human resources in the country to address perennial problems like skills-job mismatch, skills priorities, and skills anticipation,” the TESDA Chief said.

Through IBs, TVET programs can be made more responsive to the changing learning, industry, and demographic development requirements both at the local and international levels.

The establishment of IBs is in line with TESDA’s area-based and demand-driven TVET, response to new and emerging industries, and ensuring a steady and skilled supply of workers.

Currently, there are two recognized National IBs, the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) for the construction sector, and the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP) for the artificial intelligence and data analytics subsector of ICT.

TESDA has shifted from a supply-driven to a more demand-driven and area-based central strategy to make Philippine TVET responsive to the critical needs of the industries and stakeholders. This strategy in TVET also serves as an alternative pathway to prepare for future jobs and training needs in the area.

TESDA’s program to establish and recognize IBs officially rolled out in April 2021. It is also consistent with Section 26 of the Republic Act No. 7796 or the TESDA Act of 1994.