CDC, TESDA to roll out job readiness program in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are set to roll out a job readiness program to equip workers with industry-specific skills.
Central to this initiative is TESDA’s Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) program, which places trainees directly within partner companies.
This program offers hands-on training and short courses, allowing workers to acquire the competencies needed by Clark locators.
Recently, CDC President and CEO Agnes Devanadera met with TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez to finalize a partnership aimed at streamlining hiring processes and strengthening workforce readiness across key industries.
The program is modeled after the framework established by the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc., which enables workers to gain skills such as surface-mount technology assembly in just a few weeks.
Trainees will have the opportunity to stack these modules toward full national certifications.
To ensure relevance, CDC and TESDA will use Area-Based Demand-Driven scans to guide training content. These scans provide real-time data on workforce needs in aviation, manufacturing, tourism, logistics, ICT, healthcare, and other sectors.
Building on this, the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), chaired by Devanadera, recently convened at the Clark Visitors Center to discuss workforce development programs that align with industry needs.
MCAC serves as a consultative body composed of the local chief executives of Angeles City, Mabalacat City, and Porac in Pampanga, and Bamban and Capas in Tarlac—localities identified under Republic Acts No. 7227 and 9400.
During the meeting, TESDA Regional Director Baron Jose Lagran presented the EBET framework—institutionalized under Republic Act No. 12063—as a national strategy to strengthen industry-driven skills development through workplace-integrated training and curriculum co-designed with enterprises.
He cited Clark Freeport as a potential growth hub for EBET implementation, given its concentration of priority industries and demand for specialized labor.
In line with this, the CDC is committed to coordinating with local government units and partner schools to ensure inclusive access to the program for residents across Metro Clark. (PIA R3)