THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority partnered with local stakeholders in Davao to strengthen the information and communication technology sector in the region.

TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña and ICT Davao Inc. Executive Vice President and Metro Davao ICT Industry Board Authorized Representative Berlinda Torres signed a Memorandum of Agreement last March 10.

The partnership aims to further equip the workforce on IT-related skills including the need to skill, re-skill, and upskill workers in order to be responsive with the demands and opportunities in the ICT industry.

Under the agreement, TESDA shall facilitate the development of Training Regulations, Curricula, Assessment Tools, Expansion of Assessment and Certification Infrastructure and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program Registration with the help of the Metro Davao ICT Industry Board.

Metro Davao shall provide the labor market information to TESDA in aid of policy and program decisions. It shall also lead and provide experts in analyzing forecasting skills need for skill development and conduct capability building interventions for trainers and assessors.

Lapeña said that TESDA has intensified its ties and linkages with the industry to increase the participation of the private sector in human resource development.

The agency said that through industry partnerships, unemployment and job-skill mismatch in the area will be addressed.

“ICT is an emerging and fast-growing industry and is currently one of the most relevant sectors worldwide. With the help of our partners in the Metro Davao ICT Industry Board, we hope to develop relevant IT programs and produce even more highly qualified workers for the sector,” the TESDA chief said.

Torres thanked TESDA for the partnership and committed to work in pursuit of area-based and demand-driven technical vocational education and training.

“The Metro Davao ICT Industry Board’s main thrust is to address the urgent demand for workers in the ICT industry and the IT-BPM through upskilling and re-skilling of its workforce in Region XI and hopefully some other regions too,” she said.