August 12, 2025
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have formalized a partnership to expand access to free technical-vocational education and training (TVET) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and graduates.
Last August 8, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), marking a milestone in the government’s efforts to equip marginalized families with marketable skills that will help them transition from poverty to having sustainable livelihoods.
“Through this MOA, TESDA will offer free skills training, assessment, and certification not just for current 4Ps beneficiaries, but even those who’ve already exited the program,” Sec. Kiko said.
“We are synergizing and converging with DSWD to ensure both training to trabaho and social development as pathways to national development, improvement of human capital, and productivity,” The TESDA chief said.
Under the agreement, TESDA will prioritize qualified 4Ps beneficiaries and exited households for inclusion in its scholarship programs, subject to existing rules and the availability of funds. Beneficiaries will be provided with free skills training, assessment, and certification to enhance their employability and open up new livelihood opportunities.
Additionally, DSWD will identify and endorse qualified participants, promote TESDA’s programs through Family Development Sessions (FDS) and other platforms, and coordinate with stakeholders to provide complementary livelihood and employment assistance.
Through the partnership, TESDA will offer both face-to-face and online training through the TESDA Online Program, enabling beneficiaries to learn even from home. A joint tracking system will also be developed to monitor not just enrollment numbers but also post-training outcomes, such as employment, business start-ups, and income growth.
For his part. Secretary Gatchalian explained that through this agreement, 4Ps beneficiaries will have better access to skills and certification, which are valuable tools that can open a lot of opportunities for the beneficiaries.
“This partnership is living proof that we are not just committed to stitching off the culture of mendicancy in our programs, but also to building a culture that empowers our beneficiaries to unlock their fullest potential,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
This initiative is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to focus on human capital and social development in the remaining years of his administration to reduce poverty and improve the lives of the Filipino people.
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