Pueblo de Oro, TESDA 10 partner to upskill workers for Metro Cagayan de Misamis

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The region’s leading real estate developer has linked with the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the Philippines, to build up a globally competitive workforce in the Metro Cagayan de Misamis growth area, now the Philippines fourth metropolitan area after Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.

Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PDO), through its corporate social responsibility arm ICCP Group Foundation, Inc. (IGFI), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on November 29, 2024, which aims to address the growing demand for skilled workers particularly in the construction sector, promote sustainable livelihoods, and advance the region’s economic growth.

“TESDA is tasked with training so we can put our people into employment,” said TESDA-10 Regional Director Dir. Rafael Y. Abrogar II. “It sounds like a very simple equation, but it entails a lot of hard work and effort. This will not only benefit the private sector, but even more the unemployed, and those living in poverty, who need to be helped,” he added, as he reaffirmed TESDA’s commitment to producing highly skilled manpower, aligning with the region’s aspirations for growth and development.

The agreement includes initiatives such as access to TESDA’s database of certified graduates, competency assessments for existing workers, livelihood programs through IGF), skills mapping for emerging occupations, and supervised industry learning (SIL) opportunities. These collaborative efforts underscore a shared vision of empowering local talent and enhancing employability to meet the demands of a dynamic job market.

Abrogar revealed that TESDA Regional Offices are now empowered to delve into curriculum development in partnership with industry and the academe, especially for hard-to-fill skills, trainings, or qualifications which still lack competency standards, and apply these directly to address the specific needs of particular industries and companies.

“Inherent to TESDA’s mandate is to provide relevant, accessible, high quality techvoc, hence the need to have a demand driven skills training through a strengthened partnership with industry as indicated in our priority program for Demand Drive and Data Driven TVET,” said  TESDA Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Dir. Marigold Cherie R. Garrido. “The partnership with PDO will also lead towards realizing TESDA’s priority program 5.0 on Employment Outcomes.”

MOA signing between TESDA and PDO-IGFI

Engr. Chrysler B. Acebu, PDO General Manager and Vice President for Mindanao, cited the strategic importance of the partnership, especially with regard to PDO’s Masterson Mile North, a five-tower luxury condominium complex; the 31-hectare Southridge Silicon Valley-inspired mixed-use development, and a World Trade Center.

“We would really need TESDA to help us upgrade the skills of our workforce since PDO is known for its high-end products, therefore we need workers who are able to keep up in terms of delivering quality work that align with the premium standards we envision for these upcoming projects,” Acebu noted.

These projects, a collaboration between the National Development Company (NDC) and PDO’s mother firm, the ICCP Group, aim to position Cagayan de Oro as a hub for innovation and commerce. He emphasized that achieving these ambitions requires a workforce skilled to the highest standards, aligning perfectly with TESDA’s mission.

“This MOA is a symbol of our united vision between the government through TESDA, and the private sector through ICCP Group Foundation Inc. (IGFI) for the benefit and welfare to create opportunities, build capacities, and empower our communities here in Cagayan de Oro,” said Ronnie M. Tapnio, IGFI Executive Director. “When we signed this MOA, we committed ourselves to the partnership between TESDA and IGFI.”

Tapnio related how IGFI have had a similar partnership in Cebu with TESDA for pastry training with 25 women for a host community, and with TESDA national in Luzon with the Advanced Manufacturing Development Work Force funded by USAID at the national level for the upskilling of the manufacturing workforce to Industry Level 4.0 (4IR) from the current Level 2.0.

Industry 4.0, (also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR) is the current phase of the industrial revolution characterized by digital transformation and a shift towards automation and data exchange in the manufacturing and business processes. 

ICCP manages six industrial parks around the Philippines where the skillsets of the workers of its locators have to be competitive at a global level to be able to adequately address the needs of their markets and clients.

“TESDA appreciates PDO for opening its door to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). PDO plays a crucial role in helping TESDA achieve greater things, and we’re deeply grateful for your partnership and unwavering faith in our interests,” Garrido said.

“Thank you for your support to TVET and for bringing value in our journey, and we are excited to continue growing and evolving together,” she added.

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