- New partnership links education and hands-on training in aquaculture and maritime skills
- Focus on jobs, sustainability, and industry-ready TVET programs
- Initiative begins in Western Visayas with plans to scale nationwide
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have signed a partnership to strengthen skills, jobs, and training linked to the blue economy.
The agreement was signed following the groundbreaking of a regional technical and vocational education and training (TVET) innovation center in Iloilo City. The collaboration aims to give students and workers practical, industry-led exposure in aquaculture and maritime sectors areas seen as key to sustainable growth and employment.
TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez said the partnership will help spread modern aquaculture technologies and best practices to learners and fisherfolk. Starting in Western Visayas, the program is expected to benefit fisheries schools across the country, supporting sustainable use of the nation’s vast marine resources.
SEAFDEC/AQD chief Dan Baliao noted that the center brings proven technologies and field-based training into TVET programs. Trainees will gain experience beyond classrooms through demonstrations and applied learning, including aquaculture practices already implemented in local communities.
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SEAFDEC conducts around 26 training programs each year, and this tie-up marks its first formal collaboration with TESDA for structured skills training. Both organizations expect the initiative to improve employability, support small and corporate aquaculture ventures, and build a skilled workforce for the blue economy.
