SENATOR Joel Villanueva has urged the Department of Trade and Industry to work hand in hand with the education sector, particularly with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Villanueva stressed the need for DTI Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque to cooperate with the TESDA in pushing for programs for more training and advancement of people’s knowledge and capabilities.

The senator said it is important that the department should be persistent in looking for investors, but there is also a need to train workers.

“If there are investors and we don’t have human resources that are competent to be part of the company, nothing significant will happen,” the senator stressed.

“I think, secretary, you need to double your efforts… on attracting foreign investors and finding new markets for our MSMEs to drive economic growth and create job opportunities for our people, which is the advocacy closest to my heart,” he added.

The senator personally made the appeal to Aldeguer-Roque when she faced the Commission on Appointments.