In a significant boost to technical education, over 24,967 residents of the Ilocos Region have successfully completed their technical and vocational courses by December 16, 2024, thanks to scholarships provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This announcement was made by TESDA La Union Acting Director Crescencia Boac during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum in San Juan, La Union.
This year, TESDA allocated 48,327 scholarship slots in the region, with a budget of PHP1.02 billion. Out of these, 38,574 slots were utilized. The province of Pangasinan led with the highest enrollment at 20,151, of which 13,850 have graduated. Ilocos Norte followed with 9,704 enrollees and 5,071 graduates, La Union with 5,123 enrollees and 3,542 graduates, and Ilocos Sur with 3,596 enrollees and 2,494 graduates.
The most popular courses among scholars in the region include agriculture, information and communications technology, electrical and electronics, and construction. According to Boac, these courses are designed to meet industry demands and facilitate productive employment.
TESDA’s scholarship programs encompass various initiatives such as the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA), which aids students in private education; the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), offering free tuition in state and local universities and colleges; the Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program (TTSP), aimed at upskilling the workforce with industry participation; the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), focused on producing skilled workers for key industry sectors; and the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), a community-based training initiative.
Looking ahead to 2025, TWSP in the Ilocos Region is set to receive PHP70.4 million, PESFA PHP9.8 million, and TTSP PHP6.4 million. Boac noted that some programs are still awaiting funding allocation from the central office.
Additionally, TESDA has seen 82,949 individuals enroll in its training and assessment programs for national certification this year. The agency is also actively involved in assessing and certifying senior high school students, with a target of 5,121 assessments this year. To support this, 258 teachers have been trained. Graduating students will receive national certifications, enhancing their employment prospects.
In response to emerging occupational needs, TESDA has developed four new competency standards in the region. These include wind turbine maintenance and services in Ilocos Norte, cacao processing level 2 in Ilocos Sur, cocoon production in Bacnotan, La Union, and plant tissue culture in Pangasinan. These competencies, tailored to industry requirements, are expected to be formalized into courses by TESDA in the coming months.