TESDA needs more equipment for blended learning program, says Lapeña

MANILA, Philippines — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) does not have enough equipment for a blended learning program, Director General Isidro Lapeña admitted Wednesday.

During the House hearing on the proposed 2012 budget of TESDA, Lapeña was asked if the agency had the proper information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to aid in the new learning system being implemented by the national government to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At present, we have this online program, but we will be needing more equipment for the blended program to reach out to scholars in different provinces,” Lapeña told lawmakers.

“This is one of those that we have included this in our proposed budget for the procurement of IT equipment, laptop, computers, and IT structures to be able to have a better capacity on the blended training delivery modality,” he added.

Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado interpreted Lapeña’s response as not having ample equipment, to which the TESDA official agreed.

“Yes you honor, right now we don’t have [ample equipment],” Lapeña said.

Lapeña said, however, that TESDA had 71 online programs that were operational and accessible.

According to documents provided by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), government offices in the education sector got the highest allocation at P754.4 billion, which is higher than the P650.2 billion allocation for 2020.

This budget covers the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), TESDA, and state universities and colleges nationwide.

A total of P6.27 billion is allocated to TESDA for its various skills development programs.

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