TAGUIG CITY UNIVERSITY

Gen. Santos Ave., Central Bicutan, Taguig City

Graduate School
Taguig City

SEA education ministers OK plan on inclusive rural development

Source: Rudy Fernandez (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 15, 2015 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/education-and-home/2015/01/15/1413071/sea-education-ministers-ok-plan-inclusive-rural-development

MANILA, Philippines - The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC)

recently approved the 10th five-year plan of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate
Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
SEARCA is mandated to provide capacity-building interventions to promote agricultural and
rural development in Southeast Asia through graduate scholarships (doctoral and masteral),
research and development, knowledge management, and training.
To date, SEARCA, headed by Gil Saguiguit Jr., has been operating on five-year plans, which set
out the centers vision, mission, and goals; as well as outline its major strategies.
Saguiguit said the 10th plan focuses on inclusive and sustainable agriculture and rural
development (ISARD) as an effort to promote trickle-down flow. This means overall growth
should be felt at the lower levels, especially by resource-poor farmers.
With social inclusion, growth and development will benefit societys poor and vulnerable sectors
through gainful employment, income, food security, education, health and general well-being.
At the national level, the plan puts focus on science-based studies to guide policy-making or
decision-making.
A prime example is the study on smuggling of agricultural commodities. The study was done by
a SEARCA-UP Los Baos funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural
Research.
The study cited policy implications and made recommendations to mitigate the problems brought
about by agricultural smuggling.
The findings touched off Senate hearings initiated by the committee on agriculture and food
headed by Sen. Cynthia Villar in an effort to identify remedial measures and policy reforms.
The center hopes that with this increased focus on emerging problems in the agriculture sector
and translation of research findings into policy, it will give value to a research institution like
SEARCA, Saguiguit said.
TESDA eyes more certified trainers
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 5, 2015 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/campus/education/2015/03/05/1430079/tesda-eyes-more-certified-trainers

MANILA, Philippines - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is
looking to certify more technical vocational trainers in a bid to generate more qualified workers.
Submitted by: Amalia A. Dupale | Educational Planning (FEM204) Sat. 7-10AM | Dr. Rosario N. Andaya

TAGUIG CITY UNIVERSITY

Gen. Santos Ave., Central Bicutan, Taguig City
Graduate School
Taguig City

TESDA director general Joel Villanueva said the country needs more certified trainers to
guarantee the delivery of quality techvoc education.
It has become imperative to really map out the crucial role of our trainers in line with TESDAs
roadmap towards quality technical vocational education and training (TVET), Villanueva said.
In every classroom where students are excelling, theres a trainer who empowers them to work
hard to realize their potential, Villanueva added.
TESDA recently held a trainers congress attended by 500 TVET trainers from Metro Manila to
discuss how to provide the best techvoc education to the youth.
The role of trainers is more important than the availability of technology, machines and
equipment, according to Villanueva.

He said the need for quality trainers is crucial as demand for a skilled and competitive workforce
increases with the continued integration of the economies of nations.
The vision should be toward developing Filipinos as workers of the world, Villanueva pointed
out.
During the trainers congress, participants were given an overview and the latest developments on
the Philippine TVET Trainers Qualification Framework.
PTTQF provides the competency standards for TVET trainers and assessors who are involved in
training delivery, competency assessment, training design/development and training supervision.
It aims to qualify and certify the current pool of technical trainers-assessors to ensure their
competence in trade qualification and training and assessment methodologies.
At the end of the congress, participating trainers who are not holders of the National TVET
Trainers Certificate were given the opportunity to avail themselves of the scholarship vouchers
to undergo the Training Methodology I training for free.

Submitted by: Amalia A. Dupale | Educational Planning (FEM204) Sat. 7-10AM | Dr. Rosario N. Andaya