The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has a new partner in its drive to reduce poverty in Southern Philippines, the Mindanao State University (MSU) System.

In a Memorandum of Cooperation signed by TESDA and MSU on July 20, the two have agreed to come up with strategies to fully utilize the potential of technical vocational education and training (TVET) to further develop available manpower resources as a means to pump prime growth in Mindanao. Secretary Guiling Mamondiong, TESDA Director General and  MSU System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on behalf of the parties.   

TESDA could not have chosen a better partner than the MSU System, which has almost 70,000 students and some 3,000 faculty members and has 11 autonomous campuses located in four different Philippine Regions in Mindanao.

During the press conference held after the signing ceremony, Secretary Mamondiong also announced plans to open TESDA training centers to drug dependents and pushers.

“This is in response to reports of convicts and inmates who resort to their old trades after serving time in jail because they have no other means of livelihood,” said Mamondiong.

The TESDA Chief added that the Authority will take the lead in the endeavor and will work closely with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).