Tesda chief gets Devex award

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Secretary Joel Villanueva was recognized as one of the country’s Devex Manila 40 under 40 international development leaders.

The world’s largest community of aid and development professionals known as Devex, through its 40 under 40 program given the awards to few individuals including Villanueva who did exemplary performances for the international development of the communities around the world.

The Devex selected Philippines as the first developing country to host the event after the Washington D.C. awarding in 2010 and London in 2011.

Villanueva was awarded for his influence on the development agenda and impact on development results in the country and abroad.

“To be young and successful is already a feat. But to be influential, to impel real change in the way things have been done before and to inspire others to follow is something else,” Villanueva said.

The secretary revolutionized technical vocational education and training and made it more attractive to Filipinos by introducing avant–garde programs such as online courses, mobile training, green skills, and quality assessment and certification.

“I wasn’t so conscious about this until Devex gave me the awakening through this award, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Now I can say when I reach 40 that aging came with purpose,” Villanueva said.

He was awarded along with other young awardees from various fields last month in Makati City. The awardees were chosen from a pool of more than 250 candidates who undergone screening by the selection committee.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Villanueva as the Tesda director general in July 2010. Prior to this, Villanueva served three terms in the House of Representatives as the representative of the Citizens Battle against Corruption party-list. (Rubyloida Bitog)