THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority partnered with other government agencies to better serve Filipinos, particularly those in the marginalized sector.

On August 24, the agency formalized its partnerships and signed memoranda of agreement with the Clark Development Corporation, Department of Tourism, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, National Commission on Indigenous People, Department of Justice Parole and Probation Administration and Government Academe Industry Network, Inc.

TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu said that the partnership with various government agencies will develop training arrangements that will best match industry requirements and allocate additional resources for skills training.

“TESDA recognizes the active participation of various government agencies and stakeholders in technical education and skills development. For Filipinos to have a quality life and a better future, we will need to work together and invest more resources to continue enhancing the skills and knowledge of our citizens,” Mangudadatu said.

TESDA and CDC partnered for the establishment of the Regional TVET Innovation Center inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. Meanwhile, the partnership with the DOT seeks to develop a skilled and competent workforce ready for the demands of the tourism industry.

The TESDA-NCMF deal, meanwhile, aims to provide skills training to Muslim beneficiaries and promote Halal TVET.

The TESDA-BJMP and TESDA-DOJ-PPA partnerships will provide prisoners, probationers and parolees with skills development training to uplift their economic status, help them generate livelihood opportunities, and facilitate reintegration in their respective communities.

Meanwhile, TESDA and PCG will provide training to the latter’s personnel on qualifications that are vital to the execution of PCG personnel’s jobs, and review and develop training programs on basic life support, search and rescue, and environmental protection.

TESDA’s partnership with the NCIP will provide skills training to the members of the indigenous communities to help them uplift their economic status.

Also, TESDA partnered with the GAIN for the establishment of a national target for English and digital proficiency, and other related subject areas to ensure global competitiveness of the Filipino graduates and workforce.

These partnerships are aligned with TESDA’s two-pronged strategic thrust of TVET for Global Competitiveness and Workforce Readiness and TVET for Social Equity and Poverty Reduction.

“These collaborations with you are symbolic because they not only bring our institutions together but they are also concrete actions towards the call of our President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to bring back jobs in the labor market, and enhance the skills of the local workforce,” the TESDA chief said.