New TESDA chief aims to improve agency's image

Changing the image of the agency tasked to provide technical education and skills development will be the main priority of former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Rep. Joel Villanueva under the Aquino administration. Villanueva, son of defeated presidential candidate Bro Eddie Villanueva, confirmed that he had accepted the offer to become the director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). “I will confirm that on several occasions we talked about it, we talked about problems of TESDA including about its image that needs to be addressed by the new administration," he told reporters in an interview Wednesday. TESDA’s former chief, Augusto Syjuco, was accused of mismanaging the funds of the agency — an accusation he repeatedly denied. Syjuco, who won a congressional seat in Iloilo in the May 10 elections, resigned from TESDA earlier this year. President Benigno Aquino III announced Villanueva’s appointment Tuesday night. Improving quality Villanueva said he would be working on how to improve the quality of TESDA’s training so that it could produce better graduates and create jobs in the countryside. “Not only the quality TESDA graduate that is only cut for overseas employment, but also in order for us to generate income in different provinces," he said. He said one of the first things he would do is ask the Commission on Audit for a report on the finances of TESDA. “One of the major problems of TESDA ay yung funding, kung saan napupunta (One of the major problems of TESDA is the funding)," he said. Asked if he will pursue cases against the previous TESDA officials, Villanueva said that is not the job of the agency. He, however, assured that he will cooperate on any investigation that will be conducted. “It’s not our job to investigate, but one thing that I will assure you is we will cooperate if ever there is an investigation," he said. Fiercer Joel He also said a “fiercer Joel Villanueva" will take over TESDA. “When it comes to transparency and accountability . . . that has been my advocacy for the past nine years, so you will see the same or perhaps a fiercer Joel Villanueva," he said. The former lawmaker said President Aquino wants him to build relationship with the local government units and depoliticize the department to accommodate deserving scholars and strengthen partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry. Aquino also ordered Villanueva to fortify relationship with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) for the ladderized education program and assess and scrutinize the accreditation of schools. - KBK, GMANews.TV