The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been focusing on providing wider access to training and forging more industry collaborations this year, an executive said on Tuesday.

During an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, TESDA Public Information Office executive director Joy Songsong said the agency is grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for highlighting some of TESDA’s initiatives in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

TESDA’s efforts resulted in increased employability of its graduates, she said.

“TESDA continues to develop training regulations. It ensures continued partnerships with industries to enhance the training standards,” she added.

This year, TESDA is prioritizing digital transformation, wider access to training and assessment, and employment-driven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses.

“The agency continues to push for clearer education and career pathways to make it easier for Filipinos to land a job or gain formal education by training and getting certifications first,” Songsong said.

Meanwhile, Songsong said the agency targets around 20,000 scholars nationwide for academic year 2026–2027, who will land careers in industries such as information and communication technology (ICT), healthcare, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

She touted TESDA’s partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), saying this would enable the scholars to receive their allowances without maintaining balance.

This year, over 260,000 graduating learners are expected to receive TESDA National Certificate (NC) without having to pay an assessment fee, Songsong said.

“NCs provide better job opportunities to the graduates as these serve as proof of their skills,” she said.

Songsong said the agency has also partnered with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to strengthen skills development, assessment, certification, scholarship, and reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

She said OFWs, displaced workers, unemployed individuals, and out-of-school youths are among TESDA’s priorities. (PNA)