Bacolod to host first LGU-managed TESDA training center in Western Visayas
BACOLOD CITY – The city government is set to pioneer the first local government unit (LGU)-managed Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training center in Western Visayas, a major move aimed at bridging workforce skill gaps and meeting local labor market demands.
MAYOR Greg Gasataya and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) discuss how to address local labor market demands and skills gap through the proposed first local government unit-managed TESDA training center in Bacolod City. (Bacolod City Communications Office)
Mayor Greg Gasataya and other city officials recently met TESDA representatives to push forward the initiative, which will directly support the city’s broader economic development strategy.
According to the city government, the proposed training center will prioritize high-growth sectors such as digital technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and agri-industrial work, industries seen as key to this highly-urbanized city’s future economic resilience.
A critical step in realizing the project is the establishment of a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, which the city is working to institutionalize.
Once created, the council will play a strategic role in planning and guiding the center’s operations to ensure alignment with both local and regional workforce needs.
Key features of the proposed TVET Framework includes City TVET Council, which is a policy and planning body that will identify training priorities, course offerings, and scheduling.
It will also include a budget allocation which is a defined allotment in this city’s annual budget which will support the city’s TVET programs, and a shared governance, which TESDA will provide technical expertise and accreditation, while the LGU will manage day-to-day operations and oversight.
This localized approach supports the goals of the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2023–2028, which emphasizes industry-driven training and lifelong learning as pathways to building a globally competitive workforce.
Beyond serving the residents here, the center is expected to benefit nearby communities by offering programs based on employment needs identified by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (LEDIPO).