THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority recently entered into the agreements with several industry partners and non-government organizations in its ongoing bid to make technical vocational education and training more accessible.

On May 14, TESDA forged partnerships with the Printing Industry Board Foundation, Inc., Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, Kakamay Movement Organization, Inc., Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc. and Golden Arches Development Corporation, through a mass MOA/U signing ceremony held in Taguig City.

TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu said that through partnerships, TESDA will be better able to extend the agency’s services to more Filipinos.

“Ang direction po ng TESDA ay maramdaman ng lahat ng ating kababayan [ang serbisyo ng TESDA]. Like TESDA sa Barangay, to gain access in the remote areas. Kaya po binubuo natin ang partnership natin. Like our brothers here from Kakamay Movemenet Organization, the deaf are given the chance to train in TESDA. We are able to reach out up to the marginalized sectors,” the TESDA chief said.

The representatives present to sign the MOA/Us with TESDA were PIFBI President Atty. Dominador Buhain; ASSIST Program Director Francis Macatulad; Kakamay Movement founder and Chairman General Cabinera Palma; PCDSI President Jerome Tuguin; and, Human Capital Group GADC (McDonald’s) vice president Rubenrico Marasigan.

Philippine Industry Board Foundation, Inc. is an organization of printing industry employers and workers that intends to improve the skill levels of printing industry workers for them to contribute significantly to the economic and social well-being of the country.

Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation is an international, non-government organization focused on capacity building. It has been seeking to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world, focusing on Asia and Africa.

Kakamay Movement Organization Inc., a non-government organization, raises awareness for the deaf community by educating different communities in the use of sign language, raising social awareness, and promoting equality across diverse fields.

Personal Collection Direct Selling Inc., a Filipino-owned company that provides dealers and customers with sustainable income while selling products manufactured in the Philippines, collaborates with various government agencies to improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

Golden Arches Development Corporation, doing business in the country as McDonald’s Philippines, is a domestic corporation operating and franchising quick service restaurants.

It can be recalled that Secretary Mangudadatu earlier directed TESDA operating units to facilitate and coordinate the establishment of 1,000 partnerships for the calendar year 2024. As of this writing, TESDA has already established over 2,500 partners for the current year.

“Each partnership is geared towards intensifying the delivery of technical education and skills development programs and services in the country. These initiatives aim to realign skills training with industry requirements, elevate training standards, facilitate gainful employment for graduates, empower marginalized and informal sectors, and promote TVET programs,” the TESDA chief added.