President Marcos Unveils TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially launched the TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application at the Modern San Juan Theatre in San Juan City. This significant initiative represents a major advancement in the government's comprehensive strategy to strengthen the crucial connection between education and employment through digital innovation and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
Government Commitment to Education and Skills Development
During the launch event, President Marcos emphasized his administration's unwavering commitment to educational funding and skills enhancement for all Filipino citizens. "Patuloy naming sisiguraduhin na may sapat na pondo ang edukasyon. Palalakasin din namin ang pagsusulong ng skills development ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino (We will continue to ensure that education is adequately funded. We will also strengthen the promotion of skills development for every Filipino citizen)," declared the President.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted how this digital platform supports the Department of Education's ongoing reforms to create seamless pathways connecting basic education, skills training, and employment outcomes. The initiative represents a collaborative effort involving DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Comprehensive Digital Platform Features
Developed under the leadership of TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez, the mobile application serves as a single secure and verifiable digital platform that consolidates multiple essential components for students and workers:
- Skills Passport Feature: Allows users to store and present verified records of their competencies, certifications, and training achievements
- Job Component: Links users directly to employment opportunities matching their skills profiles
- Scholarship Module: Provides comprehensive information about available TESDA scholarship programs
Transforming the Education-Employment Landscape
Secretary Angara explained the transformative potential of this initiative: "Kung malinaw ang ugnayan ng edukasyon at trabaho, mas nagkakaroon ng saysay ang bawat hakbang ng pagkatuto (If the connection between education and work is clear, every step of learning becomes more meaningful). Dapat malinaw, mapagkakatiwalaan, at madaling dalhin ng mga mag-aaral at manggagawa ang kanilang credentials saan man sila magpunta (Credentials should be clear, trustworthy, and easily portable for students and workers wherever they go)."
The platform delivers substantial benefits across multiple stakeholders:
- For Employers: Simplifies verification of applicants and their credentials through secure digital records
- For Students and Workers: Provides an effective way to showcase skills and competencies to potential employers
- For Educational Institutions: Enhances alignment between training programs and actual labor market requirements
Supporting Senior High School Graduates
For the Department of Education, this platform plays a particularly crucial role in supporting Senior High School (SHS) graduates, especially those enrolled in the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track. The application provides these graduates with a clearer and more continuous pathway from their educational achievements directly to employment opportunities.
"Para sa mga SHS graduate, lalo na sa TVL track, mahalaga na dala nila ang kasanayang kinikilala at magagamit saan man sila magpunta (For SHS graduates, especially in the TVL track, it is important that they carry skills that are recognized and usable wherever they go)," emphasized Secretary Angara. "Ito ang pundasyon ng isang edukasyong may malinaw na patutunguhan (This is the foundation of an education with a clear direction)."
By digitizing learner profiles and skills credentials, the TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application significantly shortens the gap between training completion and hiring processes. This innovative approach enhances employability, improves portability of skills records, increases transparency in credential verification, and ensures that technical-vocational training better aligns with the evolving needs of the Philippine labor market.
