In the five years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) guiding principle has been to provide the community with sustainable livelihood and to prepare Filipinos for workforce readiness and global competitiveness.
TESDA Sec. Isidro Lapeña reported during President Duterte’s public address on Saturday (Aug. 21) that more than 10 million Filipinos across the globe received training under the TESDA, 9.8 million had completed TESDA graduate programs, and 6.6 million were certified as skilled and competent individuals in their respective industries.
Seven in 10 TESDA graduates (70.51%) also landed a job after completing their courses.
COVID-19 pandemic response
Lapeña said TESDA’s operational plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic called for the implementation of flexible learning in the delivery of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
TESDA adopted flexible learning delivery arrangements through blended, distance, online, and face-to-face learning which were implemented according to the community quarantine status of each area in the country.
The TESDA Online Program expanded from the initial 60 online courses to 103 free online courses for all registrants. From March 2020 to July 2021, 1.7 million Filipinos have registered for these online courses.
“Ang TESDA Online Program ang naging katuwang natin upang ang ating mga kababayan ay maging produktibo noong kasagsagan ng community quarantine,” Lapeña said.
Education and workforce readiness for all
“Mas pinalawig po natin ang sakop ng TESDA… Dahil sa aming layunin na mas maging accessible ang TVET, ang bawat rehiyon at probinsiya sa buong bansa ay mayroon ng mga training centers ngayon sa inyo (Duterte) pong administrasyon,” Lapeña added.
Under Executive Order No. 83, the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) was established, which became the basis of all programs and services provided by TESDA.
A two-pronged strategy was used to deliver TVET programs to the Filipinos: TVET for Global Competitiveness and Workforce Readiness and TVET for Social Equity and Poverty Reduction.
Livelihood trainings in small communities
Nationwide, about 215,375 indigenous peoples and 19,471 former rebels have undergone training through the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC). Among the fundamental programs of PRLEC is the training program on photovoltaic or solar lights installation systems – Project TALA or TESDA Alay ay Liwanag at Asenso.
TESDA also aims to secure food sufficiency in the Philippines, so they conduct training programs in agri-crop and livestock production so that people in the communities can produce their own food from their own lands.
Training programs on biomass feedstock production, power generator installation, and solar power irrigation system were also conducted, providing Filipino communities with alternative electricity sources.
Meanwhile, Lapeña also said the Rice Tariffication Law, through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, enabled TESDA to assist 21,075 farmers, including their dependents and other farm workers.
TESDA has established 301 farm schools under the fund’s Rice Extension Services Program.
“Sinabi nga ni Secretary [William] Dar ng Department of Agriculture, malaking tulong ang mga TVET agriculture-related trainings ng TESDA upang dumami ang ani at kita ng mga magsasaka,” Lapeña said. – CF- jlo
