THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority has opened the country’s first Regional Technical-Vocational Education and Training Innovation Center in Cebu City.

The blessing and inauguration of the center on Friday was led by TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña. TESDA Deputy Director Generals Lina Sarmiento and Luis Gabriel Quisimbing, local officials and representatives of government agencies attended the event.

Lapeña said that the center was established in anticipation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) and in consonance with the Philippine Innovation Act of 2019 embodied in the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2018-2019.

“The implementation of innovations in TVET must be dynamic, encompassing and inclusive of the education and training; experimentation in research and development; and entrepreneurship education,” Lapeña said.

The center, he added, will train students on various skills such as Machining in response to the needs of the export processing zones and manufacturing sector.

“In the very near future, NC III and NC IV of Machining and training on Prototyping will be implemented here. Other innovative projects dictated by the industry in relations to the Industry 4.0 will also be pursued,” Lapeña said.

Located at the TESDA-7 compound along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City, the P40-million center was constructed with the help of TESDA partner-agencies.