Technical education campaign stepped up in Cagayan Valley

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has joined hands with the local government and the private sector to intensify the ongoing technical education campaign in a bid to develop the youth’s competence for employment and entrepreneurship as a means to fight poverty.

This show of unity surfaced at the recent celebration of the Second Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Week, according to TESDA regional director Valerio Rola and provincial director Nestor Ave.

Rola said the participants in the so-called "capacity building" for economic upliftment were led by Cagayan Gov. Edgar Ramones Lara, who urged the youth to undergo TVET to have gainful employment and become creative entrepreneurs.

Joining TESDA and the local government in the occasion were officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Technical Institutions Foundation of Cagayan Inc. (TIFCI), the organization of TVET providers in the province.

TIFCI vice president Augusto Adriano stressed the significance of technology and the role of technical institutions in upgrading the capability of the people to improve their economic situation.

Adriano was one of the judges in the TVET slogan contests, along with DTI provincial director Bernardino Mabborang, TIFCI president Alfredo Navarro and PCCI regional governor Jaime Tabbu.

Held at the University of St. Louis in Tuguegarao City recently, the celebration showcased the areas of competence of participating institutions through various activities such as free skills training, slogan and folk tech contests, and multimedia presentation of success stories and best practices of TVET graduates in Cagayan.

Jesus Iquin of Gosi High School won the slogan contest in the English category with his entry "Go for Technical Education and Leave a Global Trail." The winner in the Filipino category was the slogan "Mamamayan, Dapat Yakapin at Pagyamanin; Edukasyong Teknikal, Sagot Nito Kaunlaran Natin" of Genalyn Calagui of Don Severino Pagalilauan High School.

The winners in the folk tech contest were Lasam Institute of Technology (first place), F.L. Vargas College (second place) and Central College of the North (third place), all offering TVET courses.

TVET is being implemented by TESDA as part of the Galing Pinoy Movement, one of President Arroyo’s anti-poverty programs.

Operating under the Office of the President, TESDA is the sole government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the country.