DBM wants P14.8B budget for Tesda in 2019

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno wants to nearly double the budget of Tesda to P14.8 billion to equip more Filipinos with skills for specialized labor markets and emerging industries. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

From P7.6 billion this year, the proposed budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for 2019 nearly doubled to P14.8 billion, the Department of Budget and Management said Wednesday.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the 2019 Tesda budget, which grew by 94.7 percent, was “reflective of the government’s effort to equip the country’s biggest asset—its people — with skills level for specialized labor markets and emerging industries.”

Around P2.3 billion of the budget will fund the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) which has 163,672 target enrollees.

TWSP offers courses required by priority industries and key employment generators such as agri-business and tourism.

Another P7 billion, lodged under the P51-billion budget of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, is earmarked to cover the cost of tertiary education of around 203,185 students enrolled in Technical-Vocational Institutions registered under the Tesda.

Meanwhile, more than P1.7 billion is provided for the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), a community-based specialty training program tailored to address specific needs of communities and promote employment.

Under STEP, about 121,396 scholars will receive training allowance and starting tool kits to kick-start their entrepreneurial ventures after completing the Program.

“With the strong demand for blue-collared jobs in the market, we are hoping these programs and services will be more accessible and appealing to our people, particularly the unemployed and out-of-school-youths,” Diokno stressed. /cbb