VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur, Feb. 29 (PIA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Ilocos Sur and the Ilocos Sur Hospitality and Related Establishment Professionals Association (ISHAREPA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Wednesday, Feb. 28 to develop a skilled workforce for the hotel and restaurant industry.
 
The MOA, titled "Establishment of the Provincial Industry Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board of the ISHAREPA," was signed at Hotel Luna in Vigan City with media present as witnesses.

TESDA-Ilocos Sur Provincial Director Larry Dizon explained the partnership aims to address the skills gap in the hospitality sector through "area-based demand-driven TVET."
 
“The TESDA Central Office has conceived another training modality that could reach the grassroots level. This is a very comprehensive program of the government through TESDA where we conduct skills mapping, we get information on the relevant jobs in a particular community, and we align the training regulations of TESDA,” Dizon said.
 
Wendell Botacion of TESDA-Ilocos Sur further emphasized the importance of industry-specific skills.
 
He said, “Kung ano po iyong tinuturo namin ay galing po sa mga industries, iyon po iyong end goal ng partnership na ito. Kung may hindi pa nadevelop na curriculum, based on their inputs we will work on the development of the curriculum. Kung ano ba ang dapat matutunan ng isang learner para maging professional sa field.”

(The goal of this partnership is to ensure the skills we teach are directly relevant to industry needs. If there's no existing curriculum for a specific skill, we will work with ISHAREPA to develop one that equips learners with the necessary skills to become professionals in the field.)

“Particularly, some of the skills are cookery NCII (National Certificate II); for them to acquire a national certificate, room attendant training and housekeeping, front desk with front office training; to professionalize them to know the standards and quality service,” he added.
 
Moreover, ISHAREPA President Mark Tandoc expressed his delight in the partnership.
 
He said, “We pledge to ourselves to keep pushing one day at a time to achieve our vision to help our professionals and stakeholders in our industry. So, this MOA with the TESDA will be a great avenue to help our professionals.”
 
He also thanked the TESDA for choosing ISHAREPA as a vehicle to accelerate their community.
 
“Let us join together to reach our common aspirations and to provide essential tools to help our industry prof and the like. Competent hospitality professionals in our field start now,” said Tandoc. (JCR/AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)