Officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, met with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Jose Francisco Benitez to discuss “preferential treatment” for senior high school graduates among the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in TESDA admissions.
During the meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, Gatchalian urged TESDA to prioritize 4Ps senior high graduates for skills training opportunities to help them build a brighter future.
DSWD Undersecretary for 4Ps Vilma Cabrera, along with Assistant Secretary Maritess Maristela of the National Household Targeting System and 4Ps (NHTS-4Ps) and 4Ps National Program Manager Director Gemma Gabuya, provided a briefing on the children-beneficiaries who have completed senior high school in the past three years and those projected to graduate in the next three years.
TESDA, established under Republic Act 7796, also known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994,” is the government agency responsible for managing technical education and skills development in the Philippines.
TESDA officials at the meeting included Community-Based Technical Vocational Education and Training Office Executive Director Lorenzo Emanuel Guillermo; Regional Operations Management Office (ROMO) Assistant Executive Director Glenford Prospero; ROMO Regional Operations Management Division Chief Rea Dalumpines; Deputy Director for Policies and Planning Rosanna Urdaneta; and Planning Office Executive Director Charlyn Justimbaste.
Other DSWD attendees included 4Ps Beneficiary Data Management Division Chief Mary Rose Oquindo and 4Ps Institutional Partnership Division Chief Khristina Umali.