MANILA, Philippines - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Joel Villanueva announced on Tuesday that he will run for senator in the 2016 elections.
"May lakas po ako ng loob na suungin ang isang mas malaking hamon ng paglilingkod sa bayan. May lakas po ako ng loob na ipagpatuloy ang masayang pagbabago," Villanueva said.
"May lakas po ako ng loob sabihin at ipagsigawan: ako po si Joel Villanueva, certified barista, mula sa tech-voc sector, mag-aapply po ako ng trabaho, para maging kinatawan ninyo doon sa Senado," he added.
Villanueva made the announcement during the TESDA Scholars' Day at Pasay City that was attended by President Benigno Aquino III.
Aquino, for his part, virtually endorsed Villanueva's senatorial bid.
The president heaped praises on Villanueva and touted the TESDA's achievements under his watch.
In his speech, Villanueva trumpeted that from 28 percent in 2008, the employment rate of TESDA scholars increased to 71.9 percent in 2014.
"Buong tiwala ako, si Joel ang pinunong kailangan ng bayan na tiyak nating mas marami pang matutulungan at mapapaunlad na kabuhayan oras na maluklok sa mas mataas na katungkulan," Aquino said.
Aquino's Liberal Party (LP) will reveal on Friday its complete senatorial line-up for next year's polls.
Villanueva had expessed reluctance to join the LP's senatorial slate due to his apparent rift with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, another senatorial aspirant from Aquino's Cabinet. He said he is not comfortable of running with De Lima since the Department of Justice included him in the list of former lawmakers who allegedly plundered their pork barrel funds.
However, in an interview with reporters last week, Aquino dismissed the rumored rift between the two officials as mere intrigue.
He said Villanueva will "definitely" be with the LP.