By JEN BAYLON
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez submitted his courtesy resignation as part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s call for all Cabinet secretaries to step down temporarily to recalibrate the administration following the May 12 midterm elections.
“We are always ready to serve in any capacity, at the pleasure of the President,” Benitez said.
Benitez joins a long list of Cabinet officials who have already submitted their courtesy resignation letters.
In a Facebook post, Jason Tupas, former Hinoba-an Councilor and current Tesda representative in Negros Occidental, expressed strong support for Benitez’s reappointment.
“If based on merit, qualification, competence, and impact to public service, I am most confident that Kiko Benitez will be reappointed as member of the Cabinet,” Tupas said, highlighting the Tesda director’s impressive credentials and impactful public service.
“Matyag ko gani, taga-an pa ‘ni siya mas dako nga department,” he added.
Benitez served as Representative of the Third District of Negros Occidental from 2019 to 2024, and was a member of the Second Congressional Commission on Education.
In the House, he held several key roles, leading policy discussions on a wide range of issues, from education reform to digital transformation, circular economy, supply chain resilience, housing finance, sustainable urbanization, creative industries, and the blue economy.
His academic credentials are equally notable, holding a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
These qualifications have underpinned his initiatives at Tesda, including the launch of the “TesdaBest” eight-point agenda aimed at modernizing technical-vocational education and aligning it with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Among those Cabinet officials who have stepped down temporarily are Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Information and Communications Secretary Henry Aguda, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Presidential Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Romando Artes.
The courtesy resignation process is a traditional practice in the Philippines that allows the president to review and reorganize the Cabinet, ensuring that the administration’s priorities align with the mandate given by the electorate./JB, WDJ