Sec. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, said he is ready to comply with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries to recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent election
“We are ready to submit to President Bongbong Marcos our courtesy resignation as Director General of TESDA. We are always ready to serve in any capacity, at the pleasure of the President”, Benitez said on Thursday, May 22.
Benitez second term as representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental was cut short in August last year when the president appointed him TESDA Director General.
Benitez is in London where he is representing the Philippines as the only Filipino panelist at the Education World Forum 2025.
The Education World Forum is the largest annual gathering of education and skills ministers.
“Today, I’m honored to speak for every Filipino who believes in the power of skills training to transform lives,” he said in a Facebook post from London on Tuesday.
Numerous Cabinet secretaries submitted their courtesy resignations on Thursday, while others announced that they will comply with the president’s call.
The request for courtesy resignations is aimed at giving the President the elbow room to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration’s recalibrated priorities, a statement from Malacañang said.
“This is not about personalities — it’s about performance, alignment, and urgency,” the President said.
“Those who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognized. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over”, he said.
Government services will remain uninterrupted during this transition, and the President reiterated that stability, continuity, and meritocracy will guide the formation of his leadership team moving forward, Malacañang said.*