TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Suharto Mangudadatu emphasized on Monday the important role of local government units in delivering technical and vocational training at the community level.

In his message during the General Assembly of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines, Mangudadatu introduced the “TESDA Sa Barangay” program which aims to extend the reach of the agency to the barangays, and to mainstream technical vocational education and training at the community level to benefit more Filipinos.

“It is my strong belief that our flagship program embodies the League of Municipalities’ overarching vision and commitment towards sustainable development. The ‘TESDA Sa Barangay’ can be one of the strategic pathways for us to convert the global aspirations of the United Nations to local action in our very own municipalities,” said Mangudadatu, a former local chief executive.

The operationalization of the ‘TESDA sa Barangay’ is the agency’s strategy to promote and communicate the value of skills training and lifelong learning to encourage LGUs to invest in the TVET sector through the conduct of training programs on lower-level qualifications, such as NC I and NC II, for the benefit of their constituents in their locality.

TESDA will then develop and offer more Diploma programs or higher-level TVET qualifications once LGUs offer lower-level qualifications.

“TVET should be viewed as an investment to human capital development, as it enhances the people’s employability, productivity, and capacity to pursue employment and livelihood, enabling them to contribute to our local economy and our society,” Mangudadatu emphasized.

Aside from the “TESDA Sa Barangay” program, Secretary Mangudadatu also shared TESDA’s initiatives to help the country achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including free skills training and assessment, prioritization of agriculture-related training, embedment of tech-voc training in Senior High School, and the Philippine Credit Transfer System, among others.

Meanwhile, Mangudadatu and LMP National President, Mayor Joseph Sto. Niño ‘JB’ Bernos of Lapaz, signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the General Assembly, which formalized the two organizations’ collaboration to further empower municipalities.

“Additional investments in the education sector and the strengthened linkages between the government sector, industries, and the academe will pave the way to an improved and sustainable future for millions of Filipinos and for the generations to come,” the TESDA chief said.