The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has forged an agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System to reduce poverty in southern Philippines.
In a memorandum of cooperation signed on Wednesday, Tesda and MSU have agreed to come up with strategies “to fully utilize the potential of technical vocational education and training (TVET) to further develop available manpower resources as a means to pump prime growth in Mindanao.”
MSU System president, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, signed the memoradum on behalf of the institution.
“A technical working group composed of Tesda and MSU will be looking into areas of collaboration. TVET is the answer to the issues that have plagued most places in the far south. We shall be introducing more opportunities for training in various skills that will go a long way in motivating and enabling the people in Mindanao,” newly appointed Tesda director general Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong said in a statement.
“I have no doubt that once our southern brothers and sisters have been given the right capabilities, a spark of inspiration will be lit among them and Mindanao will become the beacon of development and progress that it rightfully deserves to be,” Mamondiong added.
He said Tesda could not have chosen a better partner than the MSU System.
“With almost 70,000 students and some 3,000 faculty members for more than half a century, the MSU system has contributed greatly to the integration programs among the people of Southern Philippines, and has provided skills training for the economic development of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan,” the new Tesda chief pointed out.
Mamondiong said the MSU system has 11 autonomous campuses located in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and South Cotabato.