TESDA Expands Free TVET Access Across MIMAROPA with Demand-Driven Courses

Luis Cueto | Philippine Information Agency

PHILIPPINES. Philippine Information Agency (29 May 2026) - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) continues to strengthen access to technical-vocational education and training (TVET) across the MIMAROPA region through expanded scholarship programs, flexible learning opportunities, and demand-driven training courses aligned with industry needs.

During the May 27 episode of “Arangkada MIMAROPA” of the Philippine Information Agency MIMAROPA and Radyo Pilipinas-Palawan, TESDA MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Atty. Glenn Niño M. Sartillo highlighted the agency’s priority programs for 2026 aimed at equipping Filipinos with globally competitive skills and improving employment opportunities.

Sartillo said TESDA remains committed to broadening access to TVET programs through its network of technical-vocational institutions, mobile training programs, and scholarship initiatives funded by the government, amounting to more than P300 million in the MIMAROPA region.

The program is in support of the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to enhance workforce competitiveness and create more employment opportunities for Filipinos.

Among TESDA’s flagship programs is the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), which provides free training, free assessment, allowances, and starter toolkits for scholars. Depending on their chosen field, graduates receive equipment such as ovens and mixers for bread and pastry training or welding machines for welding courses.

Sartillo said that scholars who complete the program and pass the assessment receive National Certificates (NCs), which are recognized globally and open employment opportunities both locally and abroad.

“Napakalaking tulong ng TESDA sa mga kababayan nating nais magkaroon ng trabaho at mas magandang kinabukasan dahil libre ang training, may allowance pa, at may National Certification na kinikilala kahit sa ibang bansa. Basta sama-sama sa TESDA, kayang-kaya,” said Sartillo.

Sartillo also emphasized TESDA’s shift toward demand-driven and data-driven TVET programs to ensure that training offerings respond to labor market needs and create meaningful opportunities for scholars.

He noted that industries with high demand for skilled workers in the region include construction, hotel and restaurant services, agriculture and forestry, and fisheries. Courses such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, tile setting, housekeeping, and tourism services remain among the most in-demand training programs.

TESDA currently offers National Certifications from NC I up to NC IV, with higher certification levels intended for supervisory and advanced positions. (LTC/JBG/PIA MIMAROPA)

  This article is for educational purposes only. All credit and rights of this report remain with the original copyright holders such as owners, authors, and publishers of the material. More information on this can be found on our Additional Disclaimers page.