Taguig: The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Wednesday inked an agreement with beverage company, Diageo Philippines, seeking to boost the employability of TESDA bartending graduates. "By collaborating with industry titans like Diageo, we are able to ensure that we stay up-to-date. When the government and the private sector work together, we make sure that training remains relevant, responsive, and aligned with the evolving needs of the labor market," TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez said during the signing held at the agency's central office in Bicutan, Taguig.
According to Philippines News Agency, under the agreement, the two parties will update and enhance the modules for the Bartending NC II course to ensure the training meets modern mixology trends and global industry standards. Aspiring bartenders will pick up skills aligned with the evolving demands of high-end bars, luxury resorts, hotels, and premium hospitality establishments both locally and abroad. The goal, Benitez said, is to help Filipinos find productive and decent employment or jump into entrepreneurship. "As the workforce gets empowered, we then stir up the economy and more importantly, boost the spirits industry," he added.
Benitez acknowledged that Diageo, which operates in over 100 countries, understands that people are at the heart of sustainable growth. "Here at TESDA, teaching skills to people is our mandate," Benitez said, while also sharing that he also attended bartending classes at TESDA. It was not an easy class, he admitted, but emphasized that learning was essential because he can better serve his role as Secretary if he knows how the training goes. The partnership focuses on training and providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for women who want to enter the bartending and hospitality sectors.
According to TESDA, successful graduates will receive assistance and support from both parties in securing jobs and livelihood opportunities within the food and beverage industry. Meanwhile, in a social media post on Wednesday, TESDA said Benitez also met with mixology expert Kalel Demetrio to explore initiatives that will further raise the standards of bartending and beverage training in the country. The discussion centered on importance of equipping Filipino learners with globally competitive skills while promoting innovation, sustainability, and the unique identity of local flavors through modern mixology training. Opportunities for advanced training pathways, trainer development, and industry-aligned certification programs that will strengthen the country's growing hospitality and beverage sector, were also discussed.
