PCOO_insidepage_NEWS
13 April 2015

APEC News Release


President Aquino lauds TESDA for receiving ISO Certification
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday lauded the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for receiving a Nationwide International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 Certification.

Speaking during the awarding ceremony, held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace, President Aquino said the certification covers TESDA’s central office, 17 regional offices, 81 provincial offices, and its office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Patunay ang tagumpay na ito: Tuloy-tuloy ang positibong transpormasyon ng ating pamahalaan; tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aangat natin sa kalidad ng buhay ng ating mga Boss, ang mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.

The certification, which was presented by Femelyn Lati, general manager of the quality management agency TÜV SÜD PSB Philippines, Inc., recognizes the quality, safety and reliability of TESDA’s products and services.

“Ngayong tatak-ISO na ang TESDA, masisigurong higit pang magiging mahusay at makabuluhan ang kanilang training programs. Samakatuwid, diretso ang benepisyo nito sa kanilang trainees at scholars—mula sa out-of-school youth, sa mga kabilang sa sektor ng persons with disabilities, hanggang sa senior citizens—mga Pilipinong higit nang nabibigyan ng pag-asa’t pagkakataong umangat at umasenso sa buhay, at panghawakan ang sariling tadhana,” the President said.

Noting that 65.3 percent of the 7.1 million graduates of TESDA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as of December 2014 have been employed, he attributed TESDA’s success to its leaders and staff.

“Malinaw po: Ang tagumpay na ito ay hindi nagmula sa sistemang bara-bara, kundi sa kalkulado’t tiyak na mga hakbang; hindi sa tsamba, kundi sa sama-samang hangarin at pagsisikap ng bumubuo ng TESDA, kasama na ang kanilang mga mag-aaral at mga napagtapos,” President Aquino said.

TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva, for his part, said that since news broke out that TESDA is now ISO-certified, some companies have eased their work experience requirements for TESDA graduates.

Villlanueva noted that the employment rate of TESDA graduates is now at 65 percent, compared to 28 percent during the previous administration.

TESDA is the second agency under the executive branch to obtain a nationwide ISO Certification. The Department of Health was the first agency to receive the status in December 2013.
The Munich-based TÜV SÜD PSB is the country’s leading multinational certification and inspection body, which provides inspection, certification, valuation, validation, training, and testing services.

The ISO has since 1947 been certifying the adherence of government and private enterprises to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence. ISO International Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality.

Also present at the event were Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, TESDA Region 11 Director Gaspar Gayona, and directors of TESDA’s regional and provincial offices. PND (ag)


APEC forum on energy begins in Southeast Asia’s renewable energy capital
(LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte) The 44th Meeting of the Expert Group on New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET44), a sub-working group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), began on Monday at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel here.

“As an emerging renewable energy capital in the country, and even in Southeast Asia, we are proud that the province had been chosen to host the meeting to be attended by experts, engineers, and scientists from all over the world, as well as local Filipino scientists who wish to see the operations of our wind farms, the new solar power plant, and the rehabilitated hydropower plant here in Ilocos Norte,” Governor Imee Marcos said in a press statement.

Member economies of the APEC attending the meeting are Hongkong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, the United States, and the Philippines, which co-chairs the EGNRET with Chinese Taipei.

The EGNRET is chaired by Dr. Chung-Hsien Chen of Chinese Taipei’s Ministry of Economic Affairs-Bureau of Energy, and co-chaired by Director Mario Marasigan of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau.

In his welcome address on Monday morning, Marasigan said Ilocos Norte has a unique renewable technology program that features a solar power installation inside a wind power facility in the northern town of Burgos.

The province is already home to wind farms that produce 283 megawatts (MW) of power, in the towns of Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud.

Last year, two big wind farm projects went on operation — the 150-MW Burgos wind farm project of the Energy Development Corporation, and the 81-MW Caparispisan wind energy project of the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation in Pagudpud. The Northwind project in Bangui has also been expanded from 33 MW to 52 MW.

Delegates from APEC member economies have arrived in the province for the meeting and workshops on renewable energy.

Technical experts or division chiefs of BIG SHOW (Biomass, Biofuel, Geothermal, Solar, Hydro, Ocean, and Wind) sectors has joined the delegates.

The result of the Ilocos Norte meeting will be presented to APEC energy officials in October during the Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM12) to be held in Cebu.

The EGNRET aims to facilitate the increase in the use of new and renewable energy technologies in the APEC region.

The energy working group will continue the implementation of new and renewable energy technology workshops and projects that help build the needed human capacity to implement renewable energy development across the Asia Pacific.

Governor Marcos has organized a welcome dinner for the delegates on Monday (April 13) at the premises of the world heritage Paoay Church.

The delegates will be regaled with cultural presentations, featuring the internationally acclaimed Samiweng Singers and Ilocano dancers.

A night tour will also be offered to delegates who want to explore Ilocos Norte’s capital and neighboring towns.

Governor Marcos expressed hope that by hosting the meeting, Ilocos Norte would be included in the APEC map, making the province a top venue for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

The Philippines is hosting the 2015 APEC Summit, which carries the theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” PIA (Region 1)