Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at his Visit to Lipa-Malvar (LIMA) Estate, Batangas State University (BSU) Lima Campus, and 1st Anniversary of JERA-AboitizPower Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE)

Thank you, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. [Please be seated]

UK Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Sarah Hulton; the US Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Lee Lipton; Energy Secretary Sharon Garin; Batangas 6th District Representative Ryan Recto; Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto; Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan Ono Sho; the President and CEO of Sabin Aboitiz and other officials of the Aboitiz Group; Chief Executive of the LIMA Estate Rafael De Mesa; JERA Managing Director Koichi Morisaki; all our partners and our friends from the private sector; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

A rainy afternoon to you all.

Today, we gather here at the Lipa-Malvar (LIMA) Estate to visit the Batangas State University (BSU) LIMA Campus and the Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE).

These institutions represent an important principle: Education and training must lead to opportunity.

Our people deserve the skills that allow them to find meaningful work, build careers, and contribute to the growth of our economy and our country. At the same time, education should also address the needs of our industries and demands of our society.

This is consistent with this Administration’s commitment to aligning our education and training systems with the competencies required by our priority sectors.

The challenge before us is clear: As our industries evolve, we must ensure that our people are equipped to grow with them.

A 2021 study by the ADB (Asian Development Bank) found that around a third of college graduates are actually employed in jobs that are designed specifically for those with noncollege education.

Similarly, two-thirds of technical-vocational education and training (TVET) graduates were employed in occupations unrelated to the expected outcomes of their training programs.

At the same time, labor force surveys show that the prevalence of hard-to-fill occupations, which signals a skills shortage.

These figures call on us to bring education and training closer to the needs of our industries, and to better prepare our people for the opportunities that lay ahead.

This is where the Batangas State University plays a crucial role in this ecosystem that we have just toured.

The University offers ten (10) engineering undergraduate programs and eight graduate programs, alongside industry micro-credential programs in core focus areas. These give professionals opportunities to upskill, earn certifications, and to prepare for new areas of work.

Through accreditation under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program for engineering-and industrial technology-related courses, BSU now provides working professionals with a pathway towards a college degree by recognizing their prior learning and industry experience.

The Global Technical Center of Excellence, on the other hand, is a good example of what partnerships can achieve.

The GTCOE is a fruit of the collaboration between JERA Company Inc. and AboitizPower. It is a platform for technical training and knowledge-sharing, developing professionals in the power sector with strong technical expertise, leadership, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.

Its principal offerings include the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Basic Training Program and the Advanced Global Start-Up Training Program. These cover power plant operations, maintenance, safety, and emerging energy technologies.

Today, as the GTCOE marks its first anniversary, we also celebrate the fourth batch of trainees under the O&M Basic Program who are set now to graduate.

It is especially meaningful that we mark this milestone as the Philippines and Japan celebrate the seventieth (70th) anniversary of our diplomatic ties.

And as we look at what—that we have accomplished here, we, in government, are doing our part to support the requirements of the business sector.

From July 2022 to May 2026, we registered over seven hundred (703) micro-credential competency programs. It represents more than two hundred (234) percent of the June 2028 target for programs.

During the same period, we assessed over nearly five (4.9) million TVET graduates.

We also strengthened our assessment capacity by increasing the number of TVET assessors from over thirteen thousand five hundred (13,535) in July of 2022 to sixteen thousand six hundred forty (16,640) as of May of this year.

As of April, three thousand eight hundred twenty (3,819) beneficiaries have also been enrolled under the Enterprise-based Education and Training Program. This initiative gives them hands-on experience in actual industry environments and increases their chance of employability.

Our accomplishments remind us of what is possible when we give our people the skills and the opportunities that they need.

So, I call on our partners in the academe, in government, and industry to continue opening more opportunities for Filipinos to learn and to develop their skills. Let us make training more accessible and responsive to the needs of our industries.

To every Filipino who dreams of becoming a professional, wants to boost their competencies, or sees an opportunity in a growing industry: Take that leap of faith. Continue learning, improving, and believing in what you can accomplish.

This Administration stands with you as you work towards a better future for yourself, your families, and your communities.

Let us shape a Bagong Pilipinas where our workers receive equitable opportunities, our industries continue to prosper; and where every Filipino looks forward the future with confidence.

Maraming salamat po.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

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