PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has appointed two new deputy directors of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Last June 24, Director General Suharto Mangudadatu personally introduced Felizardo Colambo and Nelly Nita Dillera during the agency’s weekly flag-raising ceremony at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig City.

Mangudadatu extended his gratitude to President Marcos for appointing new officials and expressed his confidence that the expertise of the said officials will help the agency further expand its programs and services for Filipinos.

“Your expertise in various sectors will benefit TESDA as we empower more Filipinos through upskilling and reskilling. We are committed to working hand-in-hand in continuing to empower our kababayans,” the TESDA chief said.

Before his appointment to TESDA, Colambo was the president of the AMA Education System and has been an advocate of the youth sector, representing them in various council memberships.

On the other hand, Dillera was the Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center of the Department of Trade and Industry. She was also the Project Director of the Philippine Skills Framework Initiative, an inter-agency effort to build the skills and competencies of the country’s human capital and workforce to better prepare them for the future economy.

According to Mangudadatu, Colambo will head the Special Concerns Cluster consisting of the agency’s specialized training centers such as the National Training Center for Women, and the Language Skills Center of the Philippines.

Further, Dillera will lead the Partnership and Linkages Cluster of TESDA which widens the agency’s reach through the establishment of partnerships with various relevant local and international TVET stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Vidal Villanueva III has assumed his new post as the Deputy Director General for TESDA Operations replacing outgoing DDG Aniceto Bertiz III.

Mangudadatu thanked Bertiz for his hard work and dedication to TESDA and emphasized that the former official helped the agency reach new heights and advocated for the upskilling and reskilling of more Filipino workers.

“[I] thank you for being here and guiding me [through] my one-year journey here in TESDA. Napadali po because of you,” the TESDA chief said.