By Mayan Sangil, PRA
In a significant collaboration, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on November 16, 2023, officially establishing the NCR Industry Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board for the Retail Sector.
The initiative aims to engage employers, workers, learning institutions, and government in designing, developing, and implementing an area-based and demand-driven technical education and skill development system. Focused on creating a qualified, competent, and job-ready Filipino workforce, the project addresses unemployment and job-skill mismatch through strategic policy reforms in TVET aligned with retail sector requirements.
PRA, expressing its enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasized its commitment to advancing the skills development landscape in the retail industry.
“Our collaboration, as outlined in the MOA, underscores a shared commitment to addressing dynamic challenges faced by the retail sector, such as skills-job mismatch, trainer and assessor development, and skills anticipation,” stated PRA Chairwoman Ms. Rosemarie Bosch-Ong.
Through this groundbreaking partnership, PRA is set to significantly contribute to the strategic shift towards an area-based and demand-driven TVET system. The association acknowledges its pivotal role in harmonizing retail TVET requirements and bridging the gap between industry demands and TVET skills standards. PRA pledges to serve as the pulse and voice of retail, fostering a sector-focused, policy-oriented, and labor-market-driven approach in TVET planning, delivery, and implementation.
The MOA signing ceremony, held at the TESDA Office on November 16, 2023, featured key representatives from both organizations. PRA Chairwoman Ms. Rosemarie B. Ong, PRA Director for National Affairs Atty. Paul Santos, and TESDA NCR Regional Director Mr. Jovencio Ferrer, Jr. formalized the partnership, symbolizing a united commitment to the development and enhancement of the retail sector’s TVET.
