TESDA confers posthumous award to former board member

September 05, 2022

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) posthumously recognized one of its board members for his contributions and achievements to Philippine technical vocational education and training.

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz conferred the award to the late Isidro Antonio “Tony” C. Asper who served as a TESDA Board Member representing the labor sector since the agency’s inception in 1996. 

“TESDA is lucky to have had Isidro Antonio Asper as one of its board members for the best part of the last three decades, and as the lead of the TESDA Board Direction Setting Committee,” Cruz said at Asper’s necrological service last week.

“Needless to say, TESDA would be a very different agency now if not for his liberal perspectives on labor rights, and on the role of TVET in the labor market,” he added.

The plaque for the posthumous award was received by his widow, Ana D. Asper, during the annual awarding ceremony for TESDA’s partners and successful graduates held in Taguig City last Aug. 30.

Cruz also said the former board member was a pillar of TESDA and of Philippine TVET in general.  Asper was also a council member of the National Manpower and Youth Council, the precursor of TESDA.

Before his death, Board Member Asper was also the senior vice president for external and political affairs of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW-ITUC), the trade union that had recruited him in 1973 and in which he had served in various capacities over the years.

A known labor leader, he was a member of various committees and organizations including the Bishop Businessmen Conference for Human Development-Committee on Labor and Employment (BBCHD-COLE); Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC); Asian Labor Network on IFIs/Philippines (ALNI/P); Kaunlaran ng Manggagawang Pilipino; Inc. (KMPI/Workers’ Fund); Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CARRD); and, Brotherhood of Asian Trade Unionists (BATU) - Projects Development Office (BATU-PDO), among others.

BM Asper was a respected and sought-after lecturer, panelist, discussant, reactor, and presenter of various topics related to trade unionism and labor and social policy. (30)

BM Isidro Antonio “Tony” C. Asper