Marcos Urges TESDA Graduates to Leverage Skills for National Progress

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to utilize their acquired skills not only for their own benefit but also to improve the lives of fellow Filipinos. Marcos made the call during the mass graduation ceremony of 1,150 TESDA scholars in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. “Each and every one of you has dreamed that you will have training so that you will be able to get your new work, so that you will be able to earn, and so that you will be able to have a better life,” the President said in his speech. “To all our TESDA graduates, use what you have learned and use this training that you have undergone so that you can improve not only your own lives, not only the lives of your family, not only the lives of our communities, but also the lives of all Filipinos around the country,” he added. Marcos highlighted that the government has allotted nearly P19 billion for TESDA scholarship programs this year, which he said is the largest budget in the agency’s history. This underscores the administration's strong commitment to enabling more Filipinos to acquire skills and enhance their competitiveness in the job market through Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Furthermore, the government is expanding the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) program to better align the training of students with the actual needs of employers. The budget for the Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program has also been increased, and the TESDA Online Program is being developed to train more students wherever they may be. TESDA is also strengthening its micro-credentialing in TVET to speed up the training and acquisition of certificates needed by skilled workers. “Some of you might be planning to pursue college studies after your training here at TESDA. And once you have saved up enough, that can become true. We know that Filipinos are talented and hardworking. That is why we are expanding TESDA’s training programs and making them accessible to everyone,” Marcos said. He concluded by encouraging the graduates, saying, “May you carry the mark of TESDA and Ilocos Norte’s diligence and excellence wherever you go. The government looks forward to your success!” The 1,150 TESDA scholars who graduated received their National Certificate (NC) II in dressmaking and bartending. Information Source: GMA News Philippines