• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 12063, or the Enterprise Based Education Training (EBET) Framework Act, which is designed to expand enterprise-based training opportunities, encourage industry participation in curriculum development and theoretical instruction, as well as enhance on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs, was signed on February 28 by TESDA Secretary General Jose Francisco Benitez and other education stakeholders.
RA 12063, which was co-authored by Benitez when he was still a member of the House of Representatives, was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November 7 last year.
The passage of RA 12063 institutionalizes the EBET Framework designed to bridge the gap between education and industry demands, significantly enhancing workforce skills and the employability of Filipino workers, according to Benitez.
“The EBET Framework Act is a landmark, transformative law that allows us to keep pace with the evolving job market here and abroad”, Benitez said, noting that EBET contributes to its ‘Training to Trabaho’ vision, as proven by the 85.48% employment rate of TESDA’s EBET graduates.
The IRR provides guidelines for implementing the EBET Framework Act, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between TESDA and enterprises with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, as a key driver of economic growth and innovation.
Industries have expressed support for the initiative, according to TESDA. Apart from being eligible for tax incentives, businesses who take part in EBET stand to gain by employing an aptly skilled workforce, it added.
With the IRR now in place, TESDA is collaborating closely with various industry partners to implement the framework on a nationwide scale.
The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) commended TESDA for the swift completion and signing of the IRR of the EBET Framework Act.
In a statement, Senator Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of the law and EDCOM 2 Commissioner, shared enthusiasm on the signing of the law’s IRR.
“As we roll out the EBET in workplaces, our concrete bridging approach to evolve the skills set of our workers as industries shift to AI and use of new technologies, we expect to close the gap in the widening jobs-skills mismatch,” Villanueva said.*
