October 8, 2024

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, Secretary Jose Francisco "Kiko" B. Benitez laid out his "TESDABest" plan for the agency in a meeting presided over by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., in Malacañang last September 24.

The plan encapsulates his eight-point agenda for his leadership in TESDA which includes Access to TVET; Behavior and Mindset Change; Competency Standards and TRs for New and Higher-Level Qualifications; Demand-Driven TVET; Employment  Outcomes; Flexible Learning, and Facilities; Global Competitiveness, and Good Housekeeping; and Harmonization with SHS Curriculum, Ladderization with Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning Pathways.

"The Eight-Point Agenda I presented to the President is about innovation and transforming our TVET system intoTESDABest. It is about rationalizing TVET programming, optimizing TVET delivery, and maximizing our impact. And ultimately, it is about unlocking the potential of the Filipino to perform the jobs required and demanded by the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Secretary Benitez said during the TESDA's regular flag-raising ceremony on October 7.

Under his leadership, TESDA will implement this plan with the goal of repositioning Philippine TVET to elevate its public perception-not as a "second-rate" education, but as a viable pathway to immediate livelihood and employment opportunities.

"TESDA's policies and plans, and our programming should be demand-driven. Our training programs, our scholarship programs, and our learning delivery should be adapted to the needs of our changing economy, of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," the TESDA chief said.

This effort highlights the need to modernize programs, integrate digital skills, and foster partnership with industries to ensure that graduates are equipped for the evolving workforce creating a flexible, future-ready TVET system that meets the needs of both local and global economies.

"We need to catch up with the transformations happening around the world, particularly digital transformation. And we need to catch up quickly. Because our window of opportunity to ride the digital wave is narrow, our window of opportunity is closing." Secretary Benitez emphasized.

It can be recalled that last August 16, President Marcos appointed Secretary Benitez as the 15th Director General of TESDA.