City, TESDA mull pact for put up of CAR Innovation Hub

The city council adopted resolution no. 411, series of 2024, authorizing Mayor Benjamin Magalong representing the city government to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with right of usufruct with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) for the establishment of an Innovation Center Hub (IHC) or Regional Training Innovation Center (RTIC) of the Cordillera Region within the Summer Capital.

The city, in its utmost support to ‘Sustainable Development Goal 9: Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Sustainable Industrialization and Foster Innovation’, manifested its intent in hosting the ICH or RTIC of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

TESDA has developed the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2023-2028 to further strengthen technical vocational education and training (TVET), the approved measure stated.

To continue to achieve its mission, TESDA launched the project, ‘Supporting Innovation in the Philippines TVET System (SIPTVETS)’ which aims to improve access of TVET graduates to quality for TVET programs and subsequently improve their employability.

As part of TESDA’s innovation ecosystem, more TVET innovation centers are expected to be built in the country through SIPTVETS projects while selected (RTICs) will be upgraded and modernized into industry-responsive innovation centers, the resolution disclosed.

It added that RTICs will offer higher national certificate level courses, diplomas, and joint programs with industry in emerging technologies, support applied research and development as well as business incubation and entrepreneurship.

The city has signified its intent to host the construction of the ICH or RTIC of the Cordillera Region with an identified area at Irisan barangay for the SIPTVETS Center.

The resolution stated that the said MOA with right of usufruct shall be submitted to the local legislature for confirmation. – Gaby B. Keith