MANILA, Philippines – Guiling Mamondiong, a former transportation undersecretary, will be director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) under the Duterte administration.

This was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte during a gathering of Muslim leaders on Friday, July 8, in Davao City.

“He will be the Secretary of Tesda. It is a Cabinet position,” said Duterte as he was acknowledging Mamondiong at the start of his speech.

Tesda is the government agency in charge of making vocational and technical skills training available nationwide in order to develop the workforce and give Filipinos a better chance at finding employment.

Mamondiong, a lawyer who hails from Lanao del Sur, used to be an undersecretary at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Mamondiong was an active supporter of Duterte during his presidential campaign. He was one of the members of volunteer group Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte (MRRD).

He replaces Irene Isaac, the officer in charge at Tesda after former Tesda Secretary Joel Villanueva resigned in 2015 to run for senator. – Rappler.com