By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to provide quality education, strengthen skills development, and create meaningful employment opportunities for Filipinos through expanded programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
President Marcos Jr. made the assurance during the mass graduation ceremony of 1,150 TESDA Ilocos Norte National Certification (NC) II scholars at the Ilocos Norte National High School Gymnasium in Nuestra Señora del Rosario Poblacion, Laoag City.
In his speech, the President touted the P19-billion allocation for TESDA this year, which is the largest budget in the agency’s history, as vital in enhancing scholarship programs and providing more Filipinos with access to skills training and wider career opportunities.
“Ang pinakamahalagang puhunan ng ating bansa ay ang ating mamamayan,” he said. “Kapag namumuhunan tayo sa kakayahan ng Pilipino, namumuhunan tayo sa mas matatag na pamilya, mas masiglang ekonomiya, at mas magandang kinabukasan ng bansa.”
Marcos went on to cite various TESDA initiatives designed to improve the delivery of technical-vocational education in the country, such as the expanded Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) program to better align the training with the actual needs of employers.
TESDA also strengthened its micro-credentialing in Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to speed up the training and acquisition of certificates for skilled workers as they adapt to evolving industry demands.
“The world is changing very, very quickly. That is why these training programs are very important because we have to continuously train our workers because of the new technologies, because of the new situation, because of the establishment of our new supply chains around the world,” the President said.
The Chief Executive likewise mentioned the expanded TESDA Online Program, TVET for Social Equity Program, and Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program, all aimed at bringing opportunities closer to the students.
“Mga kababayan, bahagi lang ang mga programang ito ng ating layuning magbukas ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa bawat Pilipinong handang magsikap para umasenso,” he said.
The graduates are beneficiaries of the 2025–2026 Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) and the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), representing 23 TESDA-accredited training institutions in Ilocos Norte.
They were conferred with the NC II on dressmaking and bartending, proof that they acquired intermediate-level skills and industry-relevant competencies to become more competitive in the job market.
“Patunay ito na bawat isa sa inyo ay maaaring maging susunod na boss ng sarili ninyong negosyo, ng sarili ninyong mga kompanya,” President Marcos Jr. said.
“It is in your hands now that the training and the certification that is going to be the key to your progress and to the betterment of your lives. That’s why you have to add to your industry, to your patience, and to your love of work.”
-jpv
