Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez on Wednesday said enterprise-based education and training (EBET) is the agency’s most effective training modality.
Speaking before various executives and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Benitez said graduates of EBET programs have an 85.48 percent employment rate.
“So here’s my call to action — let’s partner with the industry. Bring the workplace into the classroom, and bring the classroom into the workplace,” he said.
Done in partnership with employers, EBET enables enrollees not just to learn about the work, but they also learn through actual work, he noted.
Benitez said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently released Revenue Regulations No. 13-2025.
“We have consolidated guidelines to make it easier and clearer to avail of tax incentives under the EBET framework. Enterprises that invest in training programs can deduct up to 50 percent, and soon, 75 percent, of their training expenses from their taxes,” he said.
He commented that in the future, the country will be “driven by skills, not by titles or degrees.”
About 40 to 43 percent of TESDA enrollees are college graduates wanting to gain additional skills, and some of them use this to be able to work abroad, he said.
“Businesses that will lead the world are already looking for workers with the right skills to match the rapid pace of change,” Benitez said.
He also assured that TESDA’s programs are focused on providing up-to-date training that will make the workforce ready for the demand of various industries.
“We know that skills are the currency of today’s workplace, and they are bound to carry far greater value as the job market continues to evolve,” he said.
Benitez, a former lawmaker, co-authored the EBET Framework Act while in Congress.
The EBET Framework Act’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR), signed early this year, seek to strengthen the country’s workforce through enhanced skills training, improved employability while bridging the gap between education and industry. (PNA)
