18/08/2024
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Statement of REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ on his appointment as TESDA Director General:
It is my honor to serve the country as TESDA Director General.
I thank President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for entrusting me with this important portfolio.
I also thank the different education organizations and my colleagues in EDCOM2 who nominated me for the position for their endorsement. I want to thank also my colleagues in the House, especially to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, for their support.
I want to thank, as well, ang mga kasimanwa ko sa Negros Occidental, labi na gid ang local officials and civic groups in the Third District of Negros Occidental, for their support. Sa mga palangga ko nga pumuluyo sang Third District, I may be moving to another role but indi kamo namon bayaan. I will remain always to be at your service.
I also want to convey my respects to Secretary/Governor Teng Mangudadatu for his outstanding work in TESDA. I vow to build on his accomplishments as we aim to leverage innovation to upskill our youth and workforce to enhance their competitiveness in a changing world.
This new role is full circle moment for me. It was my grand-aunt, Senator Helena Z. Benitez, who authored Republic Act No. 5462 which established the National Manpower and Youth Council, the progenitor of TESDA.
The job market and our skills needs have immensely evolved since 1969. We face many challenges in catching up with digial transformation, for example, and adapting our workforce to the digital economy.
Pero kapag magtutulungan tayo, ang industriya, gobyerno, akademya at tech-voc institutions, magtatagumpay tayo. Sama-sama tayo hubugin ang Bagong Pilipino. Sama-sama tayo tungo sa Bagong TESDA, tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas.
