The Colombo Plan Staff College and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority of the Philippines (TESDA) jointly conducted a National Seminar on Labor Market System in TESD Policy Formulation and Program Development at the Tandang Sora Hall of the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City, Philippines last November 23, 2012. The National seminar held within the In-Country Program on Labor Market Information System in TVET Policy Development and Program Formulation from November 19 to 23 at the same venue is one of the highlights of the successful implementation of the program.

The seminar was attended by 70 TESDA technical Staff from the Central Office, Planning focals from the region, Technical Staff from selected Provinces and staff from the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE/DOLE), as well as representatives from different TVET stakeholders in the region.

Invited speakers for the program were representatives from the different booming industries in the country, specifically from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Department of Tourism, National Statistics office and TESDA headquarters. The speakers highlighted emerging sectors in the Philippines economy and emphasized the importance of developing a coordinated labor market information systems and imbuing utilizing the culture among planners and administrators of TESDA and DOLE. The speakers encouraged dissemination of structured and strategic information on the demand for skilled workers that will provide matching manpower for said industries.

The first speaker, Mr. Ronald Arambulo, Executive Director of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), laid out the different forecasts and available opportunities in different economic sectors of the Philippines specially the creative arts i.e. computer games alongside health and tourism. He also identified the need for the development of the labor market Information systems to better address the workforce demands of the industry, and encouraged the partnership between different sectors and TESDA to achieve this goal.

The second speaker, Mr. Alex M. Macatuno of the Department of Tourism, presented the current administration’s plans in pursuit of -- continuous improvement of the tourism industry in the Philippines to meet the future challenges. He also identified a big potential of the tourism industry for potential jobs in the Philippines i.e 17% of the total employment that will change the workplace landscape of the Philippines. He identified various careers that an improved and sustained tourism industry can bring.

Presenting the survey results on Selected Establishments of Priority Sectors and other Market Indicators, Ms. Soraya De Guzman of the Industry and Trade Statistics Department of the National Statistics Office identified the key industries where there is potential growth for employment. Particularly she identified the retail sector as the sector where there is highest employment, and the manufacturing sector where employed workers are best compensated.

Lastly, Mr. Noel K. Villafor of the TESDA Corporate Affairs Office presented the audience with ways to analyze the labor market supply through effective TESD policy formulation through the TVET Information System. He started with a distinction between TVET and TESDA, and presented important aspects of the initiatives taken in developing an information system for benefit of the stakeholders, particularly the trainees.

The seminar was well-received by the participants whereby it has been relevant in instilling the knowledge that they have gained for the past four days of the in-country program. As such, the coordinator of the program, CPSC Faculty Consultant Dr. Hazrat Hussain extended his gratitude, on behalf of the CPSC and TESDA, in making the event a learning experience indeed on the potential of LMIS in transforming the TVET landscape in the Philippines.

Atty. Teodoro Pascua, Deputy Director General for Field Operations, TESDA, welcomes attendees of the National Seminar.