SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the Ilocos Region is championing inclusivity and workforce readiness through demand-driven skills training, opening opportunities for youth, marginalized groups, and local communities to drive economic growth.
At the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas program in San Fernando City, La Union on Dec. 17, TESDA-La Union Acting Provincial Director Crescencia Boac underscored the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in equipping Filipinos for employment and entrepreneurship.
“TESDA, or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, is the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the country. TESDA creates training programs in sectors like agriculture, construction, ICT, healthcare, logistics, and many more,” Boac explained.
Inclusive training
Highlighting TESDA’s commitment to inclusivity, Boac revealed that persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and former rebels are among their priority beneficiaries.
“PWDs and former rebels are considered as our special clients. This means we really give importance and allocate scholarships or training to these groups,” Boac stated.
Boac also reported significant progress in the region, with 3,261 senior citizens and 746 PWDs already trained as of November 2024.
TESDA’s scholarship initiatives—such as the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), and Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA)—offer free training, assessment, and allowances.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have either completed high school or the Alternative Learning System (ALS). These eligibility criteria ensure that a wide range of individuals have the opportunity to access and benefit from TESDA’s skills training programs.
Boac added that TESDA provides scholars free training, assessment, and allowances.
“TESDA training programs and assessments are free and open to all Filipinos,” Boac said.
In the Ilocos Region, TESDA has allocated scholarships with funding as follows: PHP 240.3 million for 12,573 slots in Ilocos Norte, PHP 240.3 million for 4,936 slots in Ilocos Sur, PHP 147.2 million for 5,793 slots in La Union, and PHP 540.4 million for 25,025 slots in Pangasinan, the largest allocation.
Programs to address job mismatch
To address skills mismatches, TESDA has developed four localized competency standards for emerging industries in the Ilocos Region:
- Wind turbine maintenance services in Ilocos Norte
- Cacao processing in Ilocos Sur
- Cocoon production in La Union
- Plant tissue culture in Pangasinan
“Competency standards are developed at the local level to be able to respond to these skills needs,” Boac explained.
These standards support emerging sectors like renewable energy and agricultural processing, providing employment opportunities for skilled workers.
TESDA also promotes flexibility through its TESDA Online Program (TOP), offering more than 160 free agriculture, ICT, tourism, and healthcare courses. These programs are self-paced, offering flexibility by aligning well with learners’ schedules.
TESDA Region 1’s achievements include two gold medals in hairdressing and beauty therapy at the 2024 Philippine National Skills Competition. The winners will represent the Philippines in the 2025 World Skills Competition, showcasing Filipino talent on a global stage.
“We continue to provide upskilling and reskilling programs for our countrymen who wish to acquire additional skills for employment,” Boac concluded, reinforcing the agency’s mission of building a capable and inclusive workforce in the Ilocos Region. (CCMT/AIHR/PIA Region 1)
