SENATOR Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 12063, or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, welcomed the signing of the measure as a significant step in addressing the longstanding issue of job-skills mismatch in the country.

Villanueva expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the push for the passage of this game-changing measure in the Senate, which is also one of the priorities in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

“The signing of this landmark legislation marks a crucial step in empowering our workforce and addressing unemployment and underemployment, which have long been challenges in the Philippines,” Villanueva, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, said.

According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in September 2024, down from 4.5% in August 2024. However, the increase in underemployment to 11.9% in September 2024 from 11.2% in August 2024 clearly indicates the ongoing issue of job-skills mismatch.

“By focusing on enterprise-based education and training, we are not only aligning education with market needs, which will directly translate into more job opportunities, but we are also boosting innovations in micro-credentials and stackable qualifications, AI readiness, and other emerging technologies,” he said.

The Commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education noted that EBET will pave the way for more training programs focusing on higher-level technology qualifications.

Currently, according to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), only seven percent of their courses offer advanced technology programs equivalent to National Certificates.

The EBET Act will further strengthen enterprise-based training through various access points such as General EBET, apprenticeships, and upskilling programs.

These programs have been proven effective in producing skilled workers, with employment rates as high as 92%, according to studies on the employment of Tech-Voc graduates from 2020 and 2021.

Under the EBET Framework, training programs will be competency-based and industry-driven, ensuring that trainees acquire the skills needed by employers in key sectors.

Additionally, the law emphasizes safeguarding the rights and occupational safety of trainees, ensuring that they are provided with meaningful, secure learning experiences.

“The EBET Act will ensure that our educational system keeps pace with the evolving demands of the labor market, helping bridge the skills gap in many industries,” Villanueva said.

“With the active participation of employers, technical-vocational institutions, and the government, we are creating a more robust and responsive training system,” he added.