Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officials led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian meet with Director-General Jose Francisco Benitez of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to discuss the possibility of giving preferential treatment for the senior high school graduates among the children-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for admission to TESDA.

During the Monday (September 23) meeting, Secretary Gatchalian asked the TESDA chief to prioritize 4Ps senior high school graduates for skills training opportunities to enable them build a brighter future.

Undersecretary for 4Ps Vilma Cabrera, together with Asst. Secretary Maritess Maristela of the National Household Targeting System and 4Ps (NHTS-4Ps) and 4Ps National Program Manager Director Gemma Gabuya, gave a short briefing to the TESDA officials on the children-beneficiaries who finished senior high school in the last three years and the next three years as projected by the 4Ps NPMO.

TESDA is the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development (TESD) in the Philippines. It was created by virtue of Republic Act 7796, otherwise known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994”.

TESDA officials who joined the meeting were Community-Based Technical Vocational Education and Training Office (CVTVETO) Executive Director Lorenzo Emanuel Guillermo; Regional Operations Management Office (ROMO) Assistant Executive Director Glenford Prospero; ROMO Regional Operations Management Division Chief Rea Dalumpines; General for Policies and Planning Deputy Director Rosanna Urdaneta; and Planning Office Executive Director Charlyn Justimbaste.

Other DSWD personnel who attended the TESDA meeting were 4Ps Beneficiary Data Management Division Chief Mary Rose Oquindo; and 4Ps Institutional Partnership Division Chief Khristina Umali.