BACOLOD CITY – Fellow legislators and educators hailed the appointment of Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez as the new head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“This appointment serves as a recognition of his diligence and dedication to public service,” Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said during an interview on Saturday.
He said he would attend the turnover ceremony for his brother on Monday. Francisco will succeed Suharto Mangudadatu as Director General.
In a statement, the incoming TESDA chief, who is a co-commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for “entrusting him with an important portfolio.”
“I also want to convey my respects to Secretary 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,” he added.
Benitez said that his new role is a “full circle moment,” noting that his grand aunt, Senator Helena Benitez, was the author of Republic Act 5462 which established the National Manpower and Youth Council from where the TESDA originated.
In separate statements, Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo and 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez said they take pride in Benitez’s appointment and believe he can do more for the country.
Senator Joel Villanueva, a former TESDA chief and also an EDCOM 2 commissioner, said he is ready to work with Benitez to elevate the standards of technical-vocational education in the country.
The Unified Technical Vocational Education and Training (UniTVET) of the Philippines, the national association of TVET institutions, sent their best wishes to Benitez.
“Your leadership promises a bright future for technical education and skills development in our country,” UniTVET said
The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said that Benitez’s “extensive background in education, legislation, and leadership places him in a position to effectively lead TESDA.”
“We anticipate his forward-thinking initiatives to advance technical education and skills development, building upon his previous work in strengthening TESDA's programs,” the PBEd said in a statement. (PNA)
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