Secretary Lapeña Promotes TVET as Tool for Poverty Reduction Among Partners

Technical-vocational education and training (TVET) is crucial in poverty reduction because without appropriate training, an individual will find difficulty in landing a job. This was emphasized by Secretary Isidro Lapeña, TESDA Director General, in his dialogue to major partners in Baguio City and Benguet on February 15, 2019.

The Secretary added that TVET should result in employment or livelihood after to effect a change in people’s lives. Due to its crucial and inspiring role in poverty reduction, TESDA should reach out and not wait for the target beneficiaries to come to TESDA. Hence, the agency’s slogan, “TESDA Abot Lahat.”

He enjoined the partners and the TESDA personnel to conduct a survey on industry/employer requirements to ensure that course offerings are aligned with demand of employers. This way, employability of graduates is enhanced.

Secretary Lapeña reiterated this in his talk with representatives of the Regional and Provincial TESD Committees and the Association of Technical Vocational Institutions in Benguet (ATVIB) and Baguio Association of Private Technical Institutions (BAPTI). He noted that poverty incidence is relatively high in four (4) provinces of the Region. They agreed that problems such as insurgency and social crimes arise mostly from poverty situations.

As for TESDA services, the Secretary said that upgrading of facilities and equipment, strengthening of linkages and refinement of the organizational structure would facilitate the implementation of programs and services.

Secretary Lapeña’s plant visits included the Texas Instruments (Phils.), Inc. (TIPI), Regional Training Center (RTC) - Baguio, Baguio City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT), Forest House Assessment and Training Center, Inc. (FHATCI), and Lily of the Valley (farm school).

TIPI manufactures semiconductors and has sustained an apprenticeship program that trains industrial instruments technicians and IC assemblers. The RTC-Baguio and BCSAT are the TESDA’s Centers of Technical Excellence in Machining and Tourism trades, respectively.

FHATCI focuses on tourism trades and Customer Services, while the Lily of the Valley offers programs in organic agriculture production.

The Regional TESD Committee was represented by its Chairperson, Atty. Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Ms. Carol Paran and Mr. Ric Bayao. Also in attendance were Mr. Camilo Alumit, Chairperson of the Benguet TESD Committee, and Ms. Angeline Bugtong, President of the APTVIB. With the Secretary is the Assistant Director of the Office of TESD Operations, Dir. Gladys Rosales.#