THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has commended the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the swift completion and signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act.

The shift toward industry-led training has been one of the Commission’s priorities since 2023, aligning with the recommendations of the first EDCOM.

Studies indicate that despite EBET graduates achieving a high employment rate of 85.48%, its full potential has been hampered by implementation roadblocks. This has resulted in low uptake, with only 9% of Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) enrollees under enterprise-based training.

To address this, EDCOM Commissioners—Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Rep. Mark Go, Rep. Roman Romulo, and Rep. Jude Acidre—filed Senate Bill No. 2587 and House Bill No. 7400, which led to the passage of the law on November 7, 2024.

Villanueva, the principal author and sponsor of the law, expressed enthusiasm over the IRR’s completion.

“As we roll out EBET in workplaces, we take a concrete bridging approach to evolving our workforce’s skills in response to AI and new technologies. We aim to close the widening jobs-skills mismatch,” he said.

Rep. Mark Go, Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and Co-Chairperson of EDCOM 2, emphasized the law’s economic significance.

“This law creates a crucial linkage between training initiatives and industry needs—not just enriching skill sets but also driving economic growth and development,” he stated.

TESDA Director General and former EDCOM 2 Commissioner Kiko Benitez, who co-authored the bill while in the House, highlighted TESDA’s commitment to aligning TVET education with market demands.

“This law underscores our dedication to synchronizing training with real-world industry needs, ensuring that TESDA provides high-quality training that leads directly to job opportunities,” Benitez noted.

Senator Alan Cayetano, another EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson and Chair of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, highlighted the EBET framework’s innovative, flexible training methods that enable enterprises to tailor programs to their specific operational needs.

“Education should improve lives, and that means giving people real opportunities, not just diplomas,” he said.

“With this framework, we ensure skills training fits actual jobs, helping our kababayan advance in their careers. Whether they’re already working or just starting out, the goal remains: education that leads to better lives,” he added.