Secretary Isidro Lapeña Advocates Direction Shift Among TESDA-CAR Personnel

The TESDA should not wait for the beneficiaries to come to the office. This was the directive of Secretary Isidro Lapeña, TESDA Director General, to the officials and personnel of TESDA-CAR.

“If you appreciate how critical and inspiring our role is in poverty alleviation, you would reach out to our target beneficiaries. You will not wait for them,” he said. This policy shift resulted in the present agency slogan: “TESDA Abot Lahat.”

Secretary Lapeña speaks before the TESDA – CAR personnel elaborating on the programs that are ahead of the agency.

Secretary Isidro Lapeña explained that TESDA’s role should be very pronounced. “We touch the lives of people. We teach them how to fish. Pag may skill, hindi mawawalan ng trabaho.” Hence, activities and programs should be well-documented and disseminated.

He announced that by improving the organization, the agency’s services will also improve:

Conduct of survey to determine employer requirements and needs. Training should result in employment. The TESDA can channel scholarships to areas where employment is assured.
Equipment and facilities upgrading. Obsolete and dilapidated training equipment cannot produce competitive workers. If necessary funds for the upgrading of these equipment are not included in FY 2019, these should be included in the 2020 budget proposals. Director Gladys Rosales explained that the proposals could include pictures, details on the age, cost and status of equipment to be replaced or repaired so it is easier to justify and defend. She recommended that proposals be sent first to the CO before being submitted to the Department of Budget and Management, for further enhancement if needed.
Fill up the present 531 vacant positions. The Secretary has asked for an appointment with the Budget Secretary to discuss the 1,180 positions proposed by the TESDA. He urged Job Order personnel to acquire their civil service eligibility. He also directed the personnel to be objective in rating employee performance.
Operating units that are paying rent are encouraged to secure a lot for their Office. The Central Office (CO) will include the construction in the proposed Capital Outlay or if not possible, allocate funds for training-cum-production from yearend’s savings.
The CO will propose higher trainers’ fees.
The TESDA has proposed heavy-duty vehicles (4X4) for the use of field offices, taking into consideration the terrain where field offices operate.