Duterte OKs Tesda ‘blueprint’ to boost vocational sector

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the adoption of the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2018 -2022.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by the authority of the Pesident, signed Executive Order No. 83 on June 17, but was released to the media only on Thursday.

The EO stated that under the Republic Act No. 7796 or the Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) was directed “to formulate a comprehensive development plan for middle-level manpower, based on a national employment plan or policy for the optimum allocation, development and utilization of skilled workers for employment entrepreneurship, and technology development  for economic and social growth.”

The EO manadated that the NTESDP 2018-2022 would serve as “a blueprint” Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector “in coming up with responsive policies and implementing programs in support of the broader goals and objectives of the national government.

Under the EO, the President ordered all local government units and the private sector “to adopt, disseminate and support the implementation of the  NTESDP 2018-2022.”

The Tesda should “ensure that all skills development programs and scheme conform with the quantitative objectives of the NTESDP 2018-2022 and all skills trainings and development are aligned with the Philippine Qualifications Framework and all instituted national standards,” the EO stated.

The Tesda was also mandated to monitor the implementation of the development plan and “Conduct periodic assessment to evaluate its efficiency and effectivity.”

The EO ordered the Tesda to submit, through the Department of Trade and Industry, a “semi-annual reports” to the Office of the President” on the implementation of the development plan.

The necessary funding for the implementation of the development plan shall be sourced form the appropriations alocated for the skills development and training programs of Tesda and the concerend budget of national governement agencies. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)