P-Noy lauds TESDA for providing jobs to poor
Admitting that public service could be a thankless job, President Aquino thanked the people who remain in government service despite tempting offers from the private sector.
“Everything has an upside… downside. The upside is we have so many dedicated people that have allowed so many opportunities for our people… The downside is how long will you be satisfied with doing what you’re doing, especially if your graduates are (getting) multiples of what you are earning?” Aquino said in his speech before officials and employees of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“I will continue to pray for all of you that you will continue to be inspired to provide all of these opportunities for our countrymen. And on their behalf, I want to thank all of you,” he said.
The President said even the highest leader of the land would appreciate a pat on the back once in a while.
Aquino cited a text message coursed through a senator thanking him for “taking on a job that no one in his right mind would accept.”
“I said, is this a praise or an insult? ...there were a lot of thank you’s… positive of all of the changes that has been happening. And I really want to say this because it is not I who did it, I keep saying it’s the Filipino people who did it, and all of you who have partnered with me in trying to correct the wrongs of our society, and leaving something truly worthwhile leaving for the next generations. The dream is becoming a reality,” he said.
The President said agencies like TESDA had been instrumental in creating jobs that made a difference in the lives of people, especially the poor.
“On their behalf, I would just like to thank you and hopefully that which keeps you in this job will sustain you as we face the challenge of providing even more opportunities for our people,” he said.
ISO certification
The President praised TESDA director general Joel Villanueva for his hard work and determination as TESDA received a nationwide ISO certification yesterday.
The ISO certification covered the agency’s central office, 17 regional offices and 81 provincial offices, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
TESDA obtained the ISO certification from the German-affiliated company TUV-SUD PSB Philippines, Inc., an external and independent quality management agency and the agency’s third-party certification body.
Aquino said the certification is proof that TESDA’s products and services were of excellent quality and reliable.
He said agencies must show efficient work and meet people’s expectations, if not exceed them. “TESDA was able to do it,” Aquino said.
The President said the ISO certification meant better training programs for ordinary Filipinos that would benefit more trainees and scholars, including out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
The International Organization for Standardization certifies a government or private enterprise’s adherence to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence.
“The certification bestowed on TESDA proves that after a very rigorous audit, our systems on program registration, assessment and certification, standards development and support services have demonstrated compliance with ISO 9001:2008 requirements,” Villanueva said.
TESDA is the second government agency under the executive branch with a nationwide ISO certification. The Department of Health received the status in 2013.
Villanueva said TESDA is the first and only education agency which was ISO certified.
In February 2012, TESDA received the ISO certification for its central headquarters and Regions III, VIII and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
A year later, TESDA obtained the certification for its offices in Regions I, IV-A, VII, XI and the National Capital Region.
TESDA was certified for its program registration, assessment and certification, standards development and support services in all regions and its central office last year.
All tech-voc training institutions and schools are required to be registered with TESDA before they can offer programs to the public so as to ensure that they will comply with standards in terms of facilities and equipment, curriculum content, trainers’ qualification among others.
All tech-voc graduates in courses covered by training regulations are also required to undergo the mandatory assessment of TESDA.
Meanwhile, TESDA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training programs produced 7.1 million graduates from July 2010 to December 2014, with a 65.3 percent employment rate, the President said.
He said the products of its Training for Work Scholarship Program got 68.5 percent employment, rate while 91.26 percent of the graduates of TESDA at the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines were hired.
Aquino said people are given the chance to hone their minds and skills and improve their lives as well as that of their families at TESDA.