4-year TechVoc program launched as Lapeña officially takes over TESDA
THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched on Wednesday its four-year technical-vocational program as its new director general, Isidro S. Lapeña, made his first official appearance as the agency’s head. The National Technical Education and Skills Development (NTESDP) 2018-2022 focuses on tourism, construction, information and communications technology (ICT) and IT-BPM, transport, storage, agriculture and agro-processing, food and electronics manufacturing, health, wellness and other social services. “With this plan as a guide, we will not only focus on the development of the Filipino workforce to fill in the manpower requirements of industries but also empower those hard to (reach) or unreached sectors of the Philippine population,” Mr. Lapeña said at the launch. The NTESDP will be implemented in the next four years in partnership with local government units, the education sector, technical vocational education and training (TVET) associations, industries, and other stakeholders. — Gillian M. Cortez
Courts get additional days off on Dec. 26, Jan. 2
THE SUPREME Court (SC) on Wednesday announced the suspension of work in all courts on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, 2019. The SC Public Information Office said the additional holidays are intended “to allow the officials and personnel of the judiciary full opportunity to celebrate the holidays with their families.” Malacañang on Monday suspended work in government offices under the executive branch, including corporations and state universities and colleges, on Jan. 2, also “to give employees of the government full opportunity to celebrate such holiday with their families and loved ones.” The Palace gave the discretion to respective head/management of other branches of government and private companies to follow suit. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Duterte on Roxas order to kill Loot: Just kidding
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Tuesday that former interior secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, one of his opponents in the 2016 presidential elections, had ordered the killing of his “protege,” retired police chief superintendent Vicente A. Loot, who is now the mayor of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu. However, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said the President’s statement was just another joke. The President’s statement was: “Loot has been ambushed twice but he just can’t be killed…. I wasn’t the one who ordered for his ambush. It was Roxas. Roxas ordered his ambush, not me.” Mr. Panelo, meanwhile, said: “I think it was more of an expression of displeasure said in jest.” “Mr. Loot is a known protege of Secretary Roxas,” he noted. Mr. Panelo added that it was just “a joke” and cannot be taken as an “accusation.” — Arjay L. Balinbin
