Aquino says Villanueva ready for bigger role
LESS than a year before the 2016 elections, President Benigno Aquino III seems to have started campaigning for Secretary Joel Villanueva – in case he decides to run for higher office.
“Di po ba’t ang mga gaya ni Joel na tunay na naglilingkod ang mga kailangan nating panatilihin sa serbisyo?” Aquino told more than 2,000 graduates of the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).
(Isn’t it that the likes of Joel, who truly serves the country, should be retained in public office?)
“Pinatunayan na niya rin ito sa Tesda; sigurado po ako, ganito rin ang gagawin niya kapag nabigyan siya ng mas malawak na tungkulin sa ating bansa,” the President said as the audience applauded him.
(He has already proven himself through Tesda; I am sure that he will do the same if he were given a bigger duty in our country.)
The Tesda director general is among the officials said to be eyeing a Senate seat. While he has yet to announce his plans for 2016, an earlier report said he is considering several options, including returning to the House of Representatives or running for senator.
Before the 2013 elections, reports said Villanueva was being considered as a potential senatorial candidate of the ruling Liberal Party.
He is also said to be included in LP’s shortlist for its 2016 Senate slate.
In his speech, Aquino lauded Villanueva for his work in Tesda, including the STEP, a community-based specialty training program.
Around 2,000 Tesda enrollees were present at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City for the mass graduation and awarding of toolkits, which included welding sets, ovens and sewing machines.
Villanueva said it is important for graduates to specialize and find their niche in the community. Such skills, he said, are “vital in running industries.”
Besides free training, STEP students are given tools and allowance at P60 per training day.
Aquino also hit the past administration for releasing scholarship vouchers worth P2.4 billion despite the agency not having enough funds for it.
“Kaya nga po, pinapanagot na natin ang dating pinuno ng Tesda sampu ng kanyang mga kasamahan; ngayon po ay humaharap sila sa kasong katiwalian na isinampa ng Ombudsman,” he said.
(That is why we are holding the former head of Tesda and his cohorts accountable; they are now facing a case in the Ombudsman.)
READ: Former Tesda chief Syjuco faces graft charges
