Ex-party-list solon named TESDA deputy-director general

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has named former ACTS-OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III as deputy director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday confirmed Bertiz’s appointment.

“The Palace confirms the appointment of Mr. Aniceto dela Rosa Bertiz III as deputy director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),” he said in a statement.

Roque expressed hope that with the return of around 300,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the coming months, Bertiz would be able to provide them with technical education and skills development to start a new livelihood.

“With the repatriation of thousands of overseas Filipino workers to the country, Mr. Bertiz has a huge task to fulfill, which is, to provide these returning Filipinos quality-assured and inclusive technical education and skills development, as envisioned by TESDA,” he said.

Bertiz on Monday took his oath of office before TESDA Director-General Secretary Isidro Lapeña.

He took over the position vacated by Gladys Rosales, who died in April due to coronavirus disease 2019(Covid-19).

In a separate statement, Bertiz said he was grateful for the trust bestowed by the President.

“We are humbled by the task before us at TESDA under Secretary Lapeña’s leadership, considering the huge number of Filipinos, including returning migrant workers, separated from their jobs on account of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

TESDA is the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the Philippines.

It was created by virtue of Republic Act 7796, otherwise known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994″.