In Dumaguete City, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of Negros Oriental has taken a significant step forward by establishing new competency standards for emerging job qualifications. These standards are designed to be integrated into school curricula to meet the changing needs of the job market. Joel Villagracia, the provincial director of TESDA-Negros Oriental, emphasized the agency’s commitment to equipping people with the skills that are currently in high demand. In partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), TESDA has developed standards for fields like digital marketing, aiming to officially register these training programs. The focus on the ICT sector has led to the creation of standards for various roles including content creation, data analytics, and data management. TESDA’s Online Program (TOP) now includes courses such as Visual Graphics Design NC III, while the Smart ICT courses cover topics from Android app development to technopreneurship and IBM Skill Build. Additionally, new diploma programs in Software Engineering Technology, Digital Arts Technology, and Information Technology are now available. Villagracia noted that these programs, currently at the CS IV level, are set to be adapted into community-based curricula, encouraging schools and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) to adopt and register these programs with TESDA. He anticipates a rising demand for these skills as industries evolve. Currently, Metro Dumaguete College and Silliman University’s TVI are in the process of meeting the requirements for TESDA registration. Villagracia believes that these initiatives will enhance individuals’ competitiveness in the job market.
