TESDA, 2 More Infrastructure Projects Cleared for Final Approval by Economy Council

MANILA, Philippines — The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has recommended three key government projects for final approval by the Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Marcos. These include adjustments to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) skills development project and two major infrastructure projects: the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector (PTCOBC). In a statement on Friday, the ICC-CC said it recommended approving adjustments to the Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System (SIPTVETS) Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). It also endorsed adjustments to the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project and the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector (PTCOBC) Project. On the other hand, SIPTVETS, a $100-million project backed by the Asian Development Fund, aims to improve the employability of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates and expand access to quality TVET programs. The adjustments recommended by the ICC-CC include relocating six host institutions and adding a new Regional TVET Innovation Center (RTIC) in the Negros Island Region. Once expanded, the project will cover 18 centers. “The government’s investment in technical and vocational education is an investment in the Filipino people,” ICC-CC chair and Finance Secretary Frederick Go said. “By expanding access to quality training, modern facilities and industry-relevant skills, we are helping more Filipinos build better opportunities for themselves and their families,” he added. Additionally, the SIPTVETS project also seeks to improve training quality, upgrade facilities and equipment, build trainers’ capacity, enhance industry partnerships, and strengthen TESDA’s institutional capacity. Meanwhile, the 147-kilometer NSCR will connect Metro Manila with Pampanga and Laguna. The Malolos-Clark section will begin operations by 2028, and crews are set to complete the southern portion by 2031. Earlier, the Department of Transportation said it had already acquired 90 percent of the right-of-way needed for the project. Likewise. the ICC-CC endorsed adjustments to the long-delayed PTCOBC, a 1.03-kilometer, four-lane, heavy-duty cable-stayed bridge that will connect mainland Bohol and Panglao Island. The French government will finance the project. /pai