MANILA – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) underscored the significance of industry collaboration in enhancing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) during a forum in Quezon City on Tuesday. TESDA-National Capital Region Director Cariza Dacuma emphasized the role of partnerships in addressing the skills mismatch prevalent in the workforce. ‘Collaboration and partnership are crucial to align our training programs with industry needs,’ Dacuma stated.
TESDA’s Partnerships and Linkages Office Director Floramel Joy Songsong revealed that the agency has established 3,421 partnerships as of December 16, with 3,017 of these being with industry sectors. Songsong noted that while there is no specific target for partnerships in 2025, the implementation of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Harmonization Act and the formation of Industry TVET Boards for ten key sectors are expected to boost industry engagement in TVET.
The ten priority sectors identified include information and communications technology, construction, tourism, creatives, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, health, education, agriculture, and energy. Songsong explained the ‘Adopt-Adapt’ strategy, where TESDA adopts industry-developed standards or training modules if they are not available within the agency, and adapts them if the industry’s technology or requirements are more advanced.
The EBET Harmonization Act, described as a game-changer, is anticipated to encourage more industries to participate in developing a TVET ecosystem that fosters a highly skilled and globally competitive Filipino workforce. Dacuma also reported that TESDA-NCR has formed 264 partnerships from 2022 to 2024, with 192 of these being with industries, 34 with national government agencies, and 38 with non-government organizations.