TESDA, CDC to establish TVET innovation center in Clark

November 21, 2024

Reinforcing the government’s efforts to produce Filipino workers with industry-relevant skills, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is partnering with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to establish a TVET innovation center in Pampanga.

Last November 8, TESDA Director General, Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez, and CDC President and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera signed a Deed of Usufruct during the 2024 TVET Stakeholders Forum held at the Royce Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone.

In his speech, Secretary Benitez highlighted that the agency will work closely in collaborating with its industry partners to co-create training programs to directly address the perennial problem of skills-job mismatch.

“By proactively collaborating with industries to fast-track reskilling and upskilling initiatives, we can transform our TVET ecosystem to enhance trainees’ technical skills and ensure a steady supply of best-job fit and ready workforce. This not only promotes full employment but also facilitates broader economic transition,” Secretary Benitez said.

Aligning the agency’s strategic goals to equip Filipinos with industry-relevant skills, this partnership shall establish the Regional TVET Innovation Center in Pampanga funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical Vocational Education and Training (SIPTVETS) program.

This RTIC aims to modernize training programs in warehouse and logistics management and big data analytics, offering advanced facilities such as intelligent warehousing areas, electronics and robotics laboratories, fabrication workshops, and incubation spaces for startups.

It will also prioritize research, enterprise education, and workforce upskilling, collaborating with the Gonzalo Puyat School of Arts and Trades (GPSAT) to deliver industry-aligned training.

Meanwhile, the 2024 TVET Stakeholders Forum, “Building Stronger Partnerships for Industry-Aligned TVET: Advancing Enterprise-Based Training and Bridging the Jobs-Skills Gap,” brought over 600 participants which include tech-voc stakeholders from the industry, government, and educational institutions among others.

The forum featured discussions on crucial topics such as Area-Based Demand Driven (ABDD) TVET, micro-credentialing, and enterprise-based training programs, with an aim to align skills training with the current demands of the region’s labor market.

Secretary Benitez emphasized the importance of forging partnerships between TESDA and enterprises to address the gaps in the skills and human resource needs of the economic sectors and to equip Filipinos with skills for work readiness, career adaptability, and agility.

“Promoting TVET is at the heart of TESDA’s vision. We at TESDA are committed to giving Filipinos opportunities to increase their employability, productivity, and competitiveness — qualities that are crucial to adapt to the digital transformation and technological innovation brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” the TESDA chief said.