Marcos to TESDA graduates: Use what you've learned to improve Filipinos' lives

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday called on the graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to make use of everything they have learned in their training to improve not just their own but the lives of their fellow Filipinos.

Marcos said this as he attended 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 also noted 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.

He also said 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.

He added that the budget for the Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program was increased, and the TESDA Online Program is also developed to train more students wherever they may be. TESDA, he said, is also strengthening its micro-credentialing in Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to speed up the training and acquisition of the certificates needed by the skilled workers.

“Maaaring mayroon sa inyo ang nagbabalak na mag-aral sa kolehiyo pagkatapos ng pagsasanay dito sa TESDA. At kapag nakapag-ipon na kayo ay maaaring mangyari 'yan. Alam po namin na magaling at masipag ang Pilipino. Kaya pinapalawak namin at pinararating sa lahat ang mga training ng TESDA,” Marcos said.

(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.)

“Nawa’y dala ninyo ang tatak ng kasipagan at husay ng TESDA at Ilocos Norte saan man kayo tutungo. Dalangin ng pamahalaan ang inyong tagumpay!” he said.

(May you carry the mark of TESDA and Ilocos Norte’s diligence and excellence wherever you go. The government looks forward to your success!)

Some 1,150 TESDA scholars in Ilocos Norte completed National Certificate (NC) II for dressmaking and bartending.

NC II is awarded to individuals who have acquired intermediate-level skills in various trades. These certificates validate their skills across various fields, making them more competitive in the job market. —AOL, GMA News