THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority opened another TVET innovation center in Region IX in a bid to modernize the Philippine technical vocational education and training sector in the country.

Last January 9, TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez led the inauguration ceremony of the P40-million Regional TVET Innovation Center located in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

This cutting-edge facility aims to deliver world-class technical and vocational education to empower residents and bolster the region’s economic growth.

The TVET Innovation Center has state-of-the-art machining and computer numerical control technologies. These advanced facilities are designed to deliver hands-on training that aligns with industry demands, ensuring a steady pipeline of highly skilled professionals to meet the needs of modern manufacturing and production sectors.

Benitez emphasized that by investing in advanced training facilities like this, the country is taking concrete steps to align workforce development strategies with the evolving demands of the global economy.

“This center not only enhances the trainees’ technical capabilities but also reinforces our mission to make technical education more accessible and industry-relevant,” the TESDA chief said.

Apart from serving as a training hub, the center will foster collaboration among government agencies, industries, and academic institutions. TESDA aims to create an ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development that supports both local and international labor market needs.

The Regional TVET Innovation Center stands as a testament to the agency’s resolve to empower communities, address labor market gaps, and contribute to the nation’s inclusive development agenda.

Meanwhile, last January 10, Benitez also visited the Dipolog School of Fisheries and led the groundbreaking for the soon-to-rise site of the Halal Kitchen, and the inauguration of the school’s Language Skills Institute, Pasalubong Center, as well as its Mangrove Park and Aquasilviculture, a multi-purpose production system for raising fish in a mangrove forest.