President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the training facilities inside the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) compound in Taguig City on Friday.
He inspected workshops, equipment for welding, mechatronics and visual graphics, among others, and witnessed how TESDA integrates hands-on learning with industry collaboration.
Some of the facilities he visited were the TESDA-Petron Car Care Center, TESDA-Honda Training Room and TESDA-Daikin Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Training Center.
Marcos was personally welcomed by TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez.
“TESDA’s mission goes beyond training — it is about transforming lives and preparing Filipinos for a rapidly changing world of work. With the President’s guidance, we will continue to strengthen partnerships with industry and integrate technology-driven and gender-responsive programs across all training centers,” Benitez said in a statement.
To recall, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, Marcos underscored the growing importance of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in providing employment and higher learning.
Tech-voc, he said, has been proven effective. Thus, it is gradually being included in the Senior High School curriculum.
“Mga magulang, sulitin na ninyo ang mga pagkakataong ito! Dahil hangad natin na sa lalong madaling panahon, ang bawat isang pamilyang Pilipino ay mayroong anak na nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo o sa TESDA (Parents, grab this opportunity. Our goal is for every family to have a member who graduated from college or TESDA),” Marcos said in his SONA.
The President added that almost PHP60 billion will be allocated for free education in public colleges, as well as tech-voc. (PNA)