July 29, 2025
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) welcomes the pronouncements of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), which underscored the growing importance of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in providing pathways for gainful employment and higher learning for Filipino youth.
In his address on July 28, President Marcos emphasized the integration of TVET into the senior high school (SHS) curriculum to provide students with more opportunities to acquire practical and in-demand skills.
“Napatunayan na nating mabisa ang tech-voc. Kaya, unti-unti nang pinapasok sa senior high ang TVET ng TESDA. Diretso pagka-graduate, puwede na kaagad na maghanapbuhay kung gugustuhin, dahil para na rin siyang nakapag-aral sa TESDA at nakakuha ng NC II or NC III,” President Marcos said.
He further reported that TESDA scholarships expanded significantly in 2024, with over 200,000 additional beneficiaries. He noted that the Philippines now ranks second in the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations region in the number of young people enrolled in both colleges and TVET programs.
“Kitang-kita natin ang bunga ng mga programang ito. Napakataas ngayon ng bilang ng kabataan nating pumasok sa kolehiyo o sa TESDA. Mas marami na rin ang nakakapagtapos. Kaya mga magulang: sulitin na ninyo ang mga pagkakataong ito. Dahil hangad natin na sa lalong madaling panahon, ang bawat isang pamilya ay may anak na nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo o sa TESDA,” the President added.
For his part, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez expressed gratitude for the President’s recognition of the agency’s vital role in national development and emphasized that it will continue to expand partnerships with industries, modernize training facilities, and develop advanced programs aligned with global standards to ensure that Filipino workers remain competitive both locally and internationally.
For 2024, more than 1.61 millions students enrolled in training programs, of which over 1.45 million graduated across all delivery modes. Further, some 1.3 million tech-voc graduates applied for assessment, of which more than 1.22 million were certified as skilled workers.
TESDA has also been coordinating with the Department of Education for the integration of TVET in the SHS curriculum, and the mandatory assessment of SHS-TVL graduates.
"Malaking bagay na naglalaan tayo ng focus at pondo sa tech-voc. We are encouraged by President Marcos’ continued support for our mission to provide world-class training to Filipinos," said Sec. Kiko.
"Skills are the difference maker in the modern workplace, but more importantly, it can make a difference in the lives of Filipinos. For some, getting the right skills is the difference between a low-paying job and a life-changing opportunity. For others, getting skilled through TESDA means landing a job in months, not years," he added.
Additionally, TESDA is leading the implementation of Republic Act No. 12063, also known as the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act. This law promotes experiential and immersive learning opportunities, equipping workers with the skills demanded by industries and further addressing labor market challenges.
TESDA remains steadfast in its mission to make tech-voc training more inclusive and accessible, empowering every Filipino to pursue meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, or further education.
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