THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development forged an alliance to provide skills training and education to housing program beneficiaries.

The agreement also aims to fill up the needed labor skills as the national government seeks to address the 6.5 million housing backlog.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar signed the agreement with Deputy Director General Vidal Villanueva, representing TESDA Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu.

Under the agreement, Acuzar said the department will gather data on the preferred skills of beneficiaries and provide TESDA the list of participants for the training.

“The MOA between DHSUD and TESDA is expected to fill in the gaps in existing industries in areas where the beneficiaries of housing projects are located,” he added.

“This will provide skills training and education to housing program beneficiaries of the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Villanueva committed support in carrying out the provisions of the MOA, particularly on facilitating and conducting community-based training, assessment and certification of identified beneficiaries.

“TESDA will also provide other formal technical assistance as necessary, subject to government rules and regulations,” Villanueva said.