TVET relevant with ASEAN integration

By Ramon Efren Lazaro (The Philippine Star), June 30, 2016, http://www.philstar.com/campus/education/2016/06/30/1598049/tvet-relevant-asean-integration

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Job opportunities and prospects for graduates of technical-vocational education and training (TVET) were highlighted in a forum at Fontana Hotel in this Freeport recently.

The forum pointed out the possibilities of the graduates landing jobs at special economic zones in Central Luzon with the onset of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration.

Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general and now senator-elect Joel Villanueva pointed out that TVET plays an important role by providing labor mobility and skills development necessary for the emerging industries in the country.

He noted that employment rate for TVET graduates is 72 percent and urged technical-vocational institutions to come up with more quality graduates. He promised to push for a 10 to 30 percent fund increase for technical-vocational courses.

TVET can help prevent a labor mismatch and at the same time help provide emerging industries with needed skilled workers, he added.

Rommel Narciso, assistant vice president for external affairs of Clark Development Corp.; Jobeth Otos, officer in charge of the Freeport Area of Bataan, and Rommel Aquino, chief manpower services division-labor department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority explained the bright prospects for TVET graduates.

Filipinos have a distinct advantage over their ASEAN counterparts because they have a 95 percent literacy rate, are highly skilled, proficient in English and have excellent work ethics, Narciso said

ASEAN has formed a single market and production base with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor and flow of capital.