ECOP, TESDA sign agreement on skills development

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently signed a memorandum of agreement on making skills development more responsive to the future of employment. As we sign the agreement, we reaffirm ECOP’s commitment in furthering the participation and contribution of the business sector in skills development and training in the country. This is a partnership that is long overdue, if I may add, as it is well-known that industry-led technical skills education is the only way we can effectively and efficiently address pervasive skills-mismatch and unemployment. Businesses play a crucial role in employment generation and employment provision. However, the full potential of job creation initiatives, such as Beyond 1 Million Jobs, has yet to be fully realized as employers nationwide have also raised issues of finding workers with the right skills, competencies, and attitude to perform jobs, putting additional pressure on educational institutions to step up. These concerns have been further compounded by rapid changes in technology, increased attention on sustainability, as well as the shift in work arrangements prompted by the global pandemic. Though it is quite unfortunate to admit, a significant portion of the Philippine business community has yet to fully grasp that educational institutions are only one half of the equation. To be fully effective in preparing the workers of tomorrow, education and skills training must be closely linked with business as employers determine skills and competencies needs. The goal of this partnership is to address these very issues. We hope that through this Memorandum of Agreement, the Philippine business community can fully grasp, not only the magnitude of their obligation, but also what they stand to gain from ensuring that workers of tomorrow have the right skills for employment. And that is of course, increased workplace productivity, business growth and expansion, ultimately leading to national economic development which we all desire. In addition to strengthening the case for skills development and training within the business sector, ECOP is also looking into increasing the role of business and industry in technical-vocational education and training (TVET) financing through Pillar 4 of the Skills for Prosperity Project, conducted in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO). This pillar is specifically concerned with reviewing existing practices on industry and business engagement in TVET financing delivery, in hopes of assisting the expansion or development of private sector participation in financing towards its increased affordability and accessibility. ECOP has already completed a review of existing model international financing practices and is now working on a review of national best practices. We look forward to sharing these outputs with the TESDA soon, especially in light of the creation of the new National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan. Though the future remains uncertain, I am confident that this partnership will be instrumental in contributing to employment and national development towards inclusive economic growth for the Filipino people. ECOP assures TESDA that it will hold true to commitments while continuing to advocate for a productive and enabling business environment. \*\*\* Mr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. is president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines.