TESDA with a HEART: To Serve the Communities

June 13, 2023

With the new administration of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), under the leadership of Suharto Mangudadatu as the newly appointed Secretary of the agency, the TESDA is keen to bring its programs and services closer to the communities.

TESDA Secretary Mangudadatu, as he assumed the position on June 6, 2023, laid down his 10-point agenda for the next six (6) years of his tenure in the agency.

The first point on the agenda that he put emphasis on is the TESDA sa Barangay. This aims to give access to scholarship programs and free training programs among different barangays. The second item on the agenda is a review of TESDA training regulations. This initiative will focus on the realignment of technical-vocational courses to meet the demand of the industry for local and overseas employment.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been one of the TESDA programs that benefits marginalized sectors, especially in developing their skills and knowledge in different areas. Secretary Mangudadatu, as his third agenda item, will also prioritize TVET to meet the demand of the industry or the locality of a certain area. The fourth agenda item is compliance and enhanced monitoring. The agency will also regularly inspect TESDA-accredited schools and learning centers to check on their compliance with the existing requirements of program registration, certification, and facilities.

In an effort to promote a more efficient and easier way of registering and applying for TESDA scholarship programs, part of Secretary Mangudadatu’s agenda is to enhance the online application. Additionally, the agency will work on the promotion of rural enterprise and area development through TVET. This will provide accessibility to TESDA programs for the development of rural areas.

Also, part of Secretary Mangudadatu’s 10-point agenda is the Youthpreneurship or youth entrepreneurship. TESDA will have a direct partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and other youth organizations in every barangay and locality to develop a process of information dissemination and empower the youth for the development of their skills through TESDA programs and interventions. The next initiative that Secretary Mangudadatu would like to implement is the TESDA Industry Exchange Program. This will strengthen the partnership in the continuing training of trainers and students between the industry and TESDA.

As the Secretary of TESDA, Mangudadatu will also bring in the HALAL TVET that would open an opportunity to tap the HALAL business world through the introduction and promotion of HALAL TVET.

The last and one of the most important items on the agenda is strengthening and regeneration of internal structure of the agency. The leadership of Mangudadatu will see to it that all departments, divisions, and offices of the agency are reliable and accountable for the management’s trust and confidence in providing the necessary educational needs of students and trainers as well.

With the new set of TESDA officials, the agency assures that it will continue to provide quality programs and projects that will help uplift the lives of the poor people in the country.

The said agenda will be a guide for such an administration in fulfilling its goal of providing adequate education and skills to Filipinos who want to learn and be a highly employable skilled worker. ###