The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in close collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), successfully concluded today the Inaugural Joint Management Committee (ManCom) Conference in Clark City, Pampanga.
The two-day event, led by TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, marked a historic milestone for Philippine education, bringing together officials from the three education agencies, alongside representatives from key industry sectors.
In his message, Sec. Kiko emphasized that the conference underscored the government’s commitment to creating a seamless and future-ready education and training system.
The TESDA chief also noted that digitalization, artificial intelligence, and emerging industries have heightened the urgency of ensuring that Filipino learners are equipped with flexible, relevant, and world-class competencies.
“By working together, DepEd, CHED, and TESDA can avoid policy gaps, ensure alignment, and create training to trabaho pathways that better serve learners and communities,” Sec. Kiko said.
The first day of the conference opened with a roundtable discussion with industry leaders from the semiconductor, wearables, renewable energy, and IT-BPO sectors, who shared insights on workforce challenges and opportunities.
Their participation helped anchor the conference discussions on the realities of the labor market and underscored the need for stronger linkages between industry and the education sector.
This was followed by plenary sessions that tackled data-sharing practices, the current status of the Senior High School technical-vocational strand, and the integration of government scholarship programs with social protection initiatives such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
One of the highlights of the event was the signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the three agencies. These formalized commitments to strengthen coordination on data interoperability and ensure closer collaboration between TESDA and DepEd on the implementation of technical vocational strands in Senior High School
The signing was seen as a major step forward in institutionalizing reforms that will align the country’s education and training system with both national development priorities and international benchmarks.
On the second day, discussions deepened through breakout sessions that focused on micro-credentials, learning pathways including the Philippine Credit Transfer System and guidance for learners, including those in alternative learning systems, as well as the professional development of both teachers and trainers.
Participants exchanged best practices, identified key challenges, and explored opportunities for inter-agency collaboration. These sessions allowed regional perspectives to be consolidated and ensured that local contexts were given due consideration in shaping national directions.
The conference concluded with a strong commitment from TESDA, DepEd, and CHED to sustain their collaboration and build on the gains of this first joint effort. By consolidating their mandates and aligning their policies, the three agencies affirmed their shared vision of a more coherent, inclusive, and future-ready Philippine education system.
