DAVAO CITY (September 26) – On Wednesday, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) called for a coordinated effort to transform Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into a strategic tool for inclusive development.
In a statement, MinDA Director Joan Barrera emphasized the critical need to close the skills-opportunity gap, which she said had a significant human cost, driving poverty cycles and contributing to consistently high rates of stunting and malnutrition.
Barrera emphasized Mindanao’s paradox: although accounting for 60% of the country’s agricultural exports and 17% of its GDP, six of the ten provinces have the lowest Human Development Index.
“The disconnect lies in the gap between the skills we teach and the opportunities the economy provides,” she stated, highlighting serious shortages in high-growth sectors as well as chronic underemployment, which has reached up to 21% in some places.
By acknowledging TVET as a dependable talent pipeline, she encouraged industry stakeholders to “invest in their future workforce.” She also asked development partners to coordinate their support with an integrated framework for human capital development.
“This call resonates with the Marcos administration’s broader agenda under the Bagong Pilipinas framework, which prioritizes human capital development as a cornerstone of national progress,” Barrera added.
She went on to say that empowerment must be matched with opportunity, which is key to the President’s goal to transforming Mindanao into a better, more resilient place.
