26 October 2013
How technical vocational education and training (TVET) will make a difference in the lives of the poor and how ready is the Filipino workforce for the ASEAN integration by 2015 will be the focus of discussions at the 2nd National TechVoc Congress organized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Scheduled on October 29 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the assembly will carry the theme: Quality TechVoc for Inclusive Growth.
President Benigno Aquino III will deliver the keynote address at the gathering that hopes to assess the state of the country's human resources and find ways on how TVET could boost their competitiveness ahead of the ASEAN 2015 where relevant skills will be paramount.
The congress will gather more than a thousand participants composed of heads of TVET institutions, education specialists, policy makers, industry representatives, representatives from international organizations and TESDA executives.
"This is an opportune time to assess our programs, see how they are making a dent on reducing unemployment and poverty and plan ahead for the ASEAN integration," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA director general, said.
Villanueva touted TESDA's initiatives to mainstream and improve technical vocational courses as a path toward higher employability among its graduates, but acknowledged that more needs to be done to unlock the economic potential of the country's vast pool of human resources.
TVET graduates should not only be skilled, but should be able to match the level of the workers in neighboring countries.
The region will coalesce into a single market with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. This would allow firms based in ASEAN member-nations to get into each other's market with zero tariffs.
While this would open the Philippine market to foreign brands, this would also mean stiffer competition for Filipino businesses. Filipino skilled workers that produce competitive goods and services will therefore be the country’s edge in the regional integration.
The TESDA congress is expected to show the 1st TechVoc Congress Report Card that will highlight the accomplishments from recommendations made in last year's assembly. It will also discuss the Social Development Roadmap that will spell out plans in expanding access to TVET especially among the underserved and marginalized sectors.
The National TechVoc Roadmap 2014-2016 will also be presented by Deputy Director General Irene M. Isaac, which will chart the policies and strategies to advance TVET in the country in the immediate term.
President Aquino and Villanueva will be accompanied by Cabinet officials who will deliver statements on various issues.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, director general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) will talk about The Philippine Development Plan: An Agenda for Employment Creation and Poverty Reduction; Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal will discuss The Manufacturing Industry Roadmap: Demand for Quality Skilled Workforce; Director for Tourism Investment Promotion Ma. Rica C. Bueno will deliver a speech on The Tourism Development Roadmap: It's more fun with skilled workforce.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala will talk about The Role of TechVoc in Accelerating Agricultural Development; Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz will discuss the Best Jobs Fit Report 2013: Where are the jobs?; Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal's piece will be about ASEAN Regional Integration: Implications to Philippine HRD; and Undersecretary Jude Esguerra of the National Anti-Poverty Commission will talk about Poverty Mapping: Client Targeting Approach to Inclusive Growth.
The Technical Vocational School Associations of the Philippines (TEVSAPHIL) through its chairman and president, Alejandro Escano, will present the 2nd TechVoc Congress resolution.
Villanueva, who will deliver the opening statement, will also lead the launching of "Tatak TESDA, Create a Video Contest," a new advocacy of the agency to promote tech-voc among the country’s youth.
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