Realignment of funds for COVID-19 response affects Tesda scholarships

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 116,194 scholarship slots of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) were affected as its funds were realigned for the government’s cash assistance to families affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, an official said Tuesday.

During the House’s higher education committee hearing, Tesda Executive Director Marissa Legaspi said that part of the agency’s funds, which is at P2.103 billion, were realigned for the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

“In terms of impact on our funds, we have realigned or this is the total that was not released by the DBM, this is part for later release and this has been contributed to the SAP. And that amounts to P2.103 billion,” Legaspi said.

Of the total P2.103 billion that were realigned, P1.015 billion came from Tesda’s Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program, P857 million from the Training for Work Scholarship-Program, P203 million from the Special Training for Employment Program and P10 million from the Barangay Kabuhayan Skills Training Program.

Under Republic Act 11469 or “The Bayanihan to Heal As One Act,” a total of 18 million low-income families will benefit from SAP as they will receive a cash subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months, depending on prevailing regional minimum wages.

The national government has set P200 billion fort the cash aid program.

As of April 28, 1,515 local government units have received P80.7 billion worth of funds for SAP, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

EDV