Skills for All. TESDA Director General Jose Francisco B. Benitez urges more Filipinos to avail of TESDA’s skills training programs, underscoring its benefits in securing gainful employment. (Photo: DCC/PIA-10)
TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental (PIA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is calling on more Filipinos to take part in its technical skills programs, countering claims that these are not intended for “pang-masa” (common folk) only.
TESDA Director-General Jose Francisco B. Benitez said during a press conference on April 11 that the agency continues to provide training across various technical levels to support employment.
“TESDA does the entirety of the ecosystem’s training, from the simplest skills to the most complicated technical education, we do the entire gamut,” said Benitez.
He added that TESDA also offers a range of courses through its online program, designed for remote, self-paced learning, especially for those in areas without access to training centers.
“Eighty to eighty-six percent of those that are certified and trained by TESDA gain employment within seven months to a year. A marching order is to increase the employability rate of TESDA’s and ensure that they get better paying jobs afterwards,” said Benitez.
The TESDA chief said the Regional Training and Innovation Center (RTIC) in Tagoloan, set to open in 2026, will strengthen TESDA’s capacity to meet both local and international workforce demands.
“As we level up the training and future-proof the training of the Filipino workforce through programs and initiatives like the RTIC development here, the idea is we, in TESDA, and our common partners can create as large, as robust, and as wide a pipeline to train more people,” Benitez said.
Benitez said that TESDA provides training aimed at both local economic needs and international labor demands. He explained that employment now depends on the aspirations of Filipinos and the capacity of the local economy to absorb skilled workers into better-paying jobs. “The hope, of course, is that we can train sufficiently to address both demands,” he added.
TESDA Regional Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II reiterated the regional office’s commitment to encouraging public participation in the agency’s programs, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to increase the employment rate of TESDA graduates.
TESDA-10 also continues to improve program accessibility through its micro-credentialing framework and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, enabling the agency to better meet industry demands and enhance workforce alignment.
RTC Tagoloan Center Administrator Mario S. Labisig said the new RTIC is expected to serve individuals from Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. (GDA/PIA-10)
