TESDA maintains approval and trust ratings as Top Performer among government agencies
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TAGUIG CITY, April 20, 2026 (SDN) — As the economic crisis in the country tightens, Secretary Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez has marshalled his agency’s resources to assist 260,000 senior high school (SHS) students get assessment for free.
The assistance also includes scholarships for 8,000 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the war in the Middle East to help them pick up their shattered lives.
Not a surprise there.
It’s what the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been doing for many years, making it self felt in many ways and ways that matter especially to poor Filipinos.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Benitez, a former congressman of Negros Occidental, to lead TESDA, replacing in April 2024 the then Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu following his resignation.
Meanwhile, Benitez, a former congressman of Negros Occidental, launched on Friday, April 17, the TESDA Media Lounge at the agency’s, Central Office, East Service Road, Barangay Western Bicutan.
The Media Lounge’s launch at the Ground Floor of TESDA Main Office seeks to strengthen engagement with reporters “which is vital to delivering timely, accurate and impactful information to the public.” It’s the first time the Media Lounge has opened which was closed 16 years ago.
As Benitez plans to engage in person with the media, the lounge is seen to serve as a platform for an open dialogue with him about TESDA’s priority programs, key developments, and directions moving forward.
The air-conditioned Media Lounge when fully operational is hoped to have Desktops, free Wi-Fi, unli-coffee to serve as a conducive space for media practitioners who may need a convenient venue for their reportage, including writing, editing, or producing content while covering nearby areas or activities happening within TESDA.
As this developed, TESDA has maintained its ranking at the top of the heap among government agencies, as it remains the top-performing state agency in both approval and trust ratings, as reported to the PAHAYAG 2026 First Quarter Survery that PUBLICUS Asia, Inc. conducted.
The technical vocational education and training (TVET) agency got in a the latest survey a 65 percent approval rating and a 45 percent trust rating, which reaffirms “strong public confidence in (TESDA)’s consistent delivery of accessible, relevant, and high-quality TVET programs for Filipinos.”
TESDA’s consistent top ratings was not lost on Benitez, ascribing the 14 years of consistent high ranking achievement as a reflection of the Filipino people’s trust, sharing the honor with the agency’s hard workers.
“This recognition belongs to every TESDA trainer, partners and learner who continues to believe in the power of skills to transform lives. We are grateful for the public’s trust, and we remain committed to delivering quality, accessible, and future-ready training for all Filipinos,” the TESDA director general points out.
For the free assessment, Benitez said the cost varies depending on the qualifications, with the amount from Php1,500, Php2,500, or Php3,500.
So, let’s say, we put the cost of assessment in the median fee of P2,500, for a total off 260,000 SHS students the total may run to Php520 million, a huge savings for the SHS beneficiaries who will avail themselves of the free assessment. Of course, this amount is not the actual cost for the 260,000, but only an assumption because of the different qualifications that have different costs.
The TESDA director general said a more important thing is that SHS students will be able to graduate with a certification from TESDA if they pass the assessment, through the basic entry National Competency (NC) II.
“So, it’s really about certifying our senior high graduates with skills which they can bring when applying for employment,” Benitez explains at the press conference, adding this provides a “seamless pathway” for them. “They may continue to college, get diploma program with schools accredited by TESDA, or join an entrepreneurship program in some companies.”
He said getting and passing TESDA assessment brings higher level of employment and higher pay.
Repatriated OFWs still having doubts on whether to take TESDA scholarship, or return abroad
TESDA’s free assessment is still ongoing, he pointed out. Since 2024, 308,391 graduates already availed themselves of the offer. SHS students may get endorsement from their school principal, or register at the nearest Provincial or Regional Office of TESDA.
The agency’s free assessment program supports industry needs by producing a skilled workforce that meets both national and international standards, TESDA said in a statement.
Depending on qualifications, passers may get NC levels I, II, III, or IV, their passport to well-paying jobs in the country, or abroad as many are targeting jobs overseas. In fact, Benitez said more than 50 percent of those applying for assessment are college graduates who want to add to their list of qualifications.
TESDA’s offer does not end with the free assessment, Benitez said also being provided is free scholarship vouchers for 8,000 OFWs who returned or returning from abroad because of the unprovoked war in the Middle East waged illegally by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The scholarship vouchers provision, for OFWs skilling and upskilling, is ongoing like the free assessment program.
But the scholarship has not yet gain wide traction as OFWs who were already repatriated to the country are still having double thoughts, whether to work for their re-employment abroad, or accept the free study vouchers, SDN Online learned from the TESDA press conference. Some still don’t know how to use the scholarship vouchers.
So far, Benitez said only 2,000 have availed themselves. All TESDA’s courses are part of the offer, he added.
Although not the original intent of the scholarships for the repatriated OFWs, the TESDA official said their dependent may also avail themselves.
On the other hand, the free assessment is in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd). TESDA is also strengthening its coordination with the DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) aimed at making sure “better alignment between basic education, higher education, and tech-voc training.
“We reaffirm our commitment to further expand access to quality TVET programs and strengthen collaboration with industry and government partners to support national development goals under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” said the TESDA chief, where more opportunities translate to quality jobs.
TESDA has also recently launched “Skills Passport” for an all-in-one app that links Filipinos to training, scholarships, and jobs.
The TESDA Skills Passport is described as “a mobile-first, digital solution crafted to streamline training, certifications, employment, and scholarship services for Filipinos.”
In the app are Skills Passport, Job Opportunities, Learning Paths, Scholarships, and Centers Near Me. — EDD K. USMAN (/)
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The author
EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)