The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Thursday vowed to utilize its 2026 budget to create more employment opportunities.

“This year, we are fortunate to have the biggest budget in TESDA’s history, pero hindi lang ito tungkol sa mas malaking pondo (but this isn’t about the huge funding). This means more training, more programs, and more jobs for Filipinos,” TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez said in a statement.

To recall, TESDA has secured a PHP26-billion budget for 2026. Majority or PHP19 billion of this budget will be allocated to provide scholarships to over 600,000 individuals.

This year, among TESDA’s priorities are the Digital Skills Passport, a platform designed to document learner competencies, support personalized learning pathways, and link skills to training and employment opportunities. The platform enables employers to verify workers’ credentials more efficiently and reduce hiring timelines.

TESDA said it will also scale up digital upskilling programs, strengthen partnerships with local government units to deliver training at the community level, and expand programs for high-demand, future-ready industries such as semiconductors, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

“This year, we have even greater opportunities to make an impact on the lives of Filipinos nationwide,” Benitez said. (PNA)