TESDA chief commends increase in TVET partnerships

April 18, 2024

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu has lauded the agency’s field offices for continuing to forge partnerships with various technical vocational education and training (TVET) stakeholders.

In a statement, Secretary Mangudadatu said that the agency’s field offices’ partnerships with their respective TVET stakeholders will strengthen the TESDA’s pursuit of area-based and demand-driven TVET.

“This initiative focuses on realigning technical vocational courses to meet the demands of industry in a certain locality of the country as well as the requirements of employers overseas,” the TESDA chief emphasized.

Earlier this year, the Secretary had directed TESDA operating units to facilitate and coordinate the establishment of 1,000 partnerships for calendar year 2024. The latest data show that a total of 2,560 partnerships have so far been forged nationwide.

This initiative aims to ensure the provision of high-quality, efficient, accessible, and relevant technical education and skills development (HEART), supporting the continuous creation of a competitive middle-level Filipino workforce.

As such, various field offices have already initiated partnerships with their local TVET stakeholders. Last March 25, TESDA Region XI, headed by Regional Director Ashary Banto, held a mass Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony with 24 partners to intensify the delivery of TESDA services and programs.

Also, last March 25, TESDA Region VI Director Florencio Sunico, Jr. led the MOA signing with various government agency partners, non-government organizations, academe, and industries for a more dynamic, quality, responsive, and inclusive TVET in Western Visayas.

Likewise, in Region XII, TESDA Regional Director Rafael Abrogar, Jr. led the MOA signing with around 176 industry partners in the region to ensure the employability of TVET graduates.

Meanwhile, Secretary Mangudadatu reaffirmed TESDA’s commitment to deliver its mandate of developing a highly skilled Filipino workforce, and ultimately as a result, reducing poverty and establishing social equity.

“Each partnership is geared towards intensifying the delivery of technical education and skills development programs and services in the country. These initiatives aim to realign skills training with industry requirements, elevate training standards, facilitate gainful employment for graduates, empower marginalized and informal sectors, and promote TVET programs,” the Secretary said.