In what seems to be a surprise announcement, Gov. Gwen Garcia said that she is revoking the deed of donation of the Capitol-owned lot that is currently being occupied by the regional headquarters of TESDA along Salinas Drive, Lahug in Cebu City.
The governor made the announcement during the exit call of outgoing TESDA 7 director Gamaliel Vicente Jr. on Wednesday, April 19. The official was accompanied by TESDA provincial director Floro Ringca.
The exit of the TESDA official did not sit well with Gov. Gwen, saying that the good relationship between the Capitol and the regional office has since been established, particularly in the implementation of the Capitol’s Sugbo Kahanas program.
While the Capitol had originally considered providing a possible relocation site for and replication of TESDA’s regional facility, Gov. Gwen decided to outrightly revoke the donation upon learning of Gamaliel’s reassignment without the national agency giving her the courtesy of a consultation.
The governor asserted the importance of having a good working relationship with the national government agencies in Cebu, and TESDA is one of those that have really worked well with the Capitol.
She cited how the Capitol was able to help the agency in “fulfilling its mandate” through the Sugbo Kahanas program.
This program is funded by the Provincial Government to the tune of P100 million which, in partnership with TESDA, provides qualified Cebuanos with various skills training programs for free.
TESDA issues their NCIIs after completing the trainings and passing the assessment. Since its implementation, the program has helped thousands of Cebuanos by capacitating them with much-needed skills to pursue their own business or get employed here or abroad.
TESDA’s national office is reassigning Vicente to Region 8, after more than a year as regional chief for TESDA 7.
Capitol has asserted its original ownership of the TESDA property, which was donated when it was still the National Manpower and Youth Council.
The donation was made for the purpose that it would be used for NMYC’s functions, as provided for in the deed of donation.
TESDA was established by RA 7796 or the “TESDA Act of 1994” and is responsible for the technical education and skills development in the country.
While it absorbed the functions of the NMYC, it was also a merger of the Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the Apprenticeship Program of the Bureau of Local Employment of the DOLE, making it a different entity altogether. | Carlo Lorenciana