Mga senador nadismaya sa TESDA | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Mga senador nadismaya sa TESDA

Mga senador nadismaya sa TESDA

Arra Perez,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Sep 22, 2023 10:01 AM PHT

Clipboard

MAYNILA - Nadismaya ang ilang mga senador sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) dahil umano sa kakulangan ng kahandaan sa ikalawang beses nilang pagharap sa budget hearing.

Unang nagisa ang TESDA nang magbigay ng paligoy-ligoy na sagot tungkol sa kung paano pwedeng mag-avail ng kurso sa farm school ang mga interesadong rice farmers.

"It is the Department of Agriculture who handles all the rice farmer registry. We just implement the RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund)," ani TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz III

"Nagulat lang ho ako. Kasi kung lumapit sa TESDA, itataboy natin? 'Ah hindi, kailangan sa registry kayo, punta kayo sa DA'," ayon naman kay Majority Floor Leader Sen. Joel Villanueva.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paliwanag pa ni Bertiz, nakasaan umano sa batas na sa DA dapat nagpaparehistro ang mga rice farmer.

May P700 milyong pondo ang TESDA mula sa RCEF, na ginagamit nila para sa training ng rice farmers sa mga TESDA-accredited na government at private instiutions, maging sa allowance ng rice farmers.

Ang DA naman ang nakatoka sa pagtukoy ng mga magsasakang pwedeng lumahok sa programa.

Muling napag-initan ang TESDA nang hindi nito agad maipaliwanag ang ibig sabihin ng "community-based trainings".

Samantala, pinasisiguro ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sa TESDA na kakayanin nitong i-assess at kalauna'y i-certify ang nasa 470,000 senior high school students na kumukuha ng technical vocational strand dahil popondohan ito ng P1.3 bilyon ng pamahalaan.

"We're giving TESDA advanced notice that we will fund this. But we have to start the process of getting assessors to assess the 470,000 senior high schools. Because we don't want an answer na hindi namin kaya. Because we already generated the funds. It's up to TESDA now to generate the assessors," ani Gatchalian.

"My proposal supposed to be, iyong district supervisor office (of schools division), ite-train natin as assessor kasi sila po ay nagsusweldo na po sa DepEd. So we will just give them knowledge," sagot ni TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu.

Pinagsusumite ni Gatchalian ng rollout plan ang TESDA para rito.

Plano na ring mag-alok ng ahensya ng diploma course sa cybersecurity, na ie-endorso na sa board of directors sa Oktubre.

Sinabi ni Mangudadatu na pinagpapaliwanag din niya ang ilang pribadong techvoc training centers na wala umanong accreditation mula sa TESDA.

Sa huli, inaprubahan din naman ang P15.2 bilyong alokasyon ng TESDA sa 2024 National Expenditure Program.

KAUGNAY NA ULAT

Watch more News on iWantTFC

ADVERTISEMENT

Unlocking the future of cancer care with Next-Generation Sequencing: Why the Philippines must keep up

Unlocking the future of cancer care with Next-Generation Sequencing: Why the Philippines must keep up

ABS-CBN News,

Catherine SC Teh,

MD,

MSc,

FPCS,

FRCSEd,

(Hon)FACS,

G.CIEHF

Clipboard

Photo courtesy of the Makati PIO, file

In the last decade, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has transformed cancer diagnosis and treatment worldwide, offering deeper insights into tumor biology, treatment resistance, and personalized therapy. This technology allows for rapid sequencing of DNA and RNA, paving the way for more precise, effective, and individualized cancer treatment strategies.

However, in the Philippines, access to comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis remains limited, often delaying optimal cancer management.

As we push for world-class cancer care, integrating genomic profiling into standard practice is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Understanding genomic testing: Comprehensive vs. Targeted Analysis

Cancer is a genetic disease, and molecular profiling is crucial in understanding its behavior. NGS-based testing can be categorized into:

ADVERTISEMENT

1) Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP):

• Analyzes hundreds of cancer-related genes simultaneously.

• Detects single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions/deletions, copy number variations (CNVs), gene fusions, and microsatellite instability (MSI).

• Ideal for hard-to-treat cancers, double primaries, and recurrent disease.

2) Targeted or Focused Genetic Analysis:

• Examines only a select number of genes known to drive specific cancers.

• Used for single mutations like EGFR in lung cancer or BRCA1/2 in breast/ovarian cancers.

• Limited in scope but useful for quick decision-making when a specific mutation is suspected.

The role of ctDNA and cfDNA in precision oncology

1) Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA): Fragments of DNA released into the bloodstream by both normal and cancer cells.

2) Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA): A subset of cfDNA derived specifically from cancer cells, carrying tumor-specific mutations.

These liquid biopsy techniques have transformed oncology by providing real-time tumor profiling without the need for invasive biopsies.

Their applications include:

✔ Early Detection – Identifying molecular changes before a tumor is visible on imaging.


✔ Monitoring Treatment Response – Tracking tumor evolution in real-time and detecting resistance mutations.


✔ Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Detection – Identifying microscopic cancer cells post- treatment to predict recurrence.


✔ Guiding Therapy Selection – Identifying actionable mutations for targeted therapy or immunotherapy.


✔ Surveillance – Early detection of metastasis or recurrence in high-risk patients.

Why these technologies must be accessible in the Philippines

Despite its clinical value, comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy remain out of reach for most Filipino cancer patients due to:   

1) High cost and limited insurance coverage

2) Lack of local laboratories offering high-throughput NGS 3) Limited awareness among healthcare providers

4) Data accessibility and integration challenges

Given the high prevalence of hard-to-treat cancers like lung and ovarian cancers, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and rare gastrointestinal malignancies, access to genomic technologies is critical in improving survival rates.

Using genomic data for risk assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic impact

1. Risk Assessment

• Identification of hereditary cancer syndromes (e.g., Lynch syndrome, BRCA mutations, APC

for colorectal cancer).

• Early intervention and cancer screening programs for high-risk individuals.

2. Precision Diagnosis

• Differentiating primary vs. metastatic cancers for double primaries.

• Classifying tumors based on molecular subtypes, ensuring correct treatment selection.

3. Therapeutic Impact

• Identifying targetable mutations for personalized therapy (e.g., FGFR inhibitors for

cholangiocarcinoma, IDH1 inhibitors, immunotherapy biomarkers).

• Predicting response to chemotherapy, avoiding unnecessary toxic treatments.

4. Surveillance & Recurrence Detection

• ctDNA monitoring allows early detection of recurrence, often before it is visible on scans.

• Liquid biopsies provide a non-invasive alternative to tissue biopsies in monitoring cancer

progression.

Building a genomic-ready cancer care system in the Philippines

To integrate genomic medicine into mainstream cancer care, we must:

🔹 Expand local NGS and ctDNA testing facilities to lower costs and increase accessibility.


🔹 Advocate for PhilHealth and private insurance coverage for genomic testing in oncology.


🔹 Strengthen clinician education on the utility of CGP and liquid biopsy in decision-making.


🔹 Develop national cancer genomic databases for better data sharing and patient stratification.


🔹 Foster research collaborations to establish Filipino-specific genomic data for cancer risk profiling.

A call to action

Cancer care is rapidly evolving, and genomic medicine is the future. As Filipino cancer specialists, we must push for broader access to NGS and liquid biopsy technologies to bring global standard cancer care to our patients.

The time to act is now. We must bridge the gap in precision oncology, empower Filipino patients with genomic-driven treatments, and improve survival outcomes across all cancer types.

--

Established in September 1936, the Philippine College of Surgeons is the country's premier organization of surgical professionals.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.