New Tesda Chief Focused on Future-Proof Labor Force
Manila, Philippines — The Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) has called on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to intensify higher-level skills training and to delegate more programs to local government units (LGUs). This push aims to develop a future-proof labor force capable of meeting evolving industry demands.
Edcom 2 co-chair, Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, urged Tesda Director General Jose “Kiko” Benitez to concentrate agency efforts on high-yielding certification programs. “Maybe Secretary Kiko, it’s about time to put a halt to all these various programs that you have, and focus really on the really high-yielding NCs,” Romulo said, referring to national certificates. “Maybe that would be a good legacy for your time at Tesda.”
Addressing Gaps in Advanced Certification Programs
A study presented by an Ateneo-Edcom 2 fellow revealed a significant imbalance: over 13,000 NC II certifications exist compared to only 26 top-level NC IV programs nationwide across technical vocational institutions (TVIs), as aligned with the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF). Established by law in 2018, the PQF sets national standards and qualification levels to enhance worker mobility and address job mismatches.
While Tesda offers NC V programs designed to develop specialized skills and independent decision-making, officials noted these lack proper assessment mechanisms. “Like the Cookery [program], what does that get on level V — the chef title already? That’s where we should be headed [to the higher level NCs],” Romulo explained. He added, “Because the individual’s time is really wasted.”
Concerns over Diploma Program Quality
Edcom 2 Executive Director Karol Yee also raised concerns about the quality of Tesda’s diploma programs. Although Tesda lists over 700 diploma offerings, many lack uniform standards and quality assurance. Tesda Deputy Director General Rosanna Urdaneta clarified that the diploma model was piloted between 2016 and 2019, allowing TVIs to develop their own courses, with monitoring still ongoing.
Under Republic Act No. 7796, Tesda is mandated to provide quality technical-vocational education and training (TVET) aligned with national development goals. Programs cover sectors like agriculture, automotive transport, tourism, and information and communications technology.
Devolving Programs to Local Governments
In a separate report, Edcom 2 emphasized the need to devolve more of Tesda’s operations to LGUs. Benitez acknowledged, “The devolution of Tesda’s training functions to local government—this, I’ll admit, we haven’t done. We had devolved certain institutions, we have LGU-led [training], but they are very spotty, not systematic. Much of this is dependent on the interest and sustained efforts of the local government itself.”
The report cited a 2005 plan to devolve TVIs within eight years, but only five institutions were transferred, with just one still operating. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, co-chair of Edcom 2 with Romulo, stressed that Tesda must honor the spirit of the law by devolving its operations, especially since nearly half of the agency’s budget supports these institutions. “The point of the matter is to stay true to the spirit of the law, which is to devolve, and 40 percent of your budget goes to running those TVIs … What we’re calling for is to stay true to the law: which is to devolve it,” Gatchalian said.
Benitez shared that Tesda will issue an order within the next month and a half to facilitate this transition. “Much of this will require LGUs to create ordinances and plantilla positions specific to technical-vocational education and training,” he added.
Ongoing National Education Review
Edcom 2 is conducting a national review of the education sector this July to assess the performance of Tesda and other educational agencies. This review aims to ensure programs effectively equip Filipinos with the skills needed for future employment.
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