KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato | February 8, 2026 — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) continues to strengthen its support for the free education initiative of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato by providing accessible, industry-driven skills training programs aimed at improving employability and livelihood opportunities for residents.
TESDA Provincial Director Noralaine Rasul emphasized that the agency’s training programs are aligned with Governor Reynaldo Tamayo’s s economic priorities, ensuring that learners acquire competencies that match actual labor market needs.
“The priority skills currently in demand in South Cotabato include construction-related trades such as masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation, welding, and heavy equipment operation. Agricultural skills covering crop production, farm mechanization, post-harvest processing, and agribusiness operations are likewise being promoted to support the province’s strong agricultural sector,” according to Rasul.
She noted that TESDA’s competency-based training approach ensures that graduates are equipped with practical, job-ready skills that can lead to employment, entrepreneurship, or self-employment opportunities.
TESDA programs are accessible to ordinary South Cotabateños through provincial and satellite training centers, including the Provincial Training Center in Surallah.
“Scholarship programs are also available to help cover training costs, while the TESDA Online Program provides free courses that residents can access anytime and anywhere,” she said during her guesting in the weekly talk show Hinun-anon sa Kapitolyo.
Director Rasul also highlighted inclusive initiatives designed for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Community-Based Training Programs, implemented in partnership with local government units and stakeholders, bring skills training closer to communities and help ensure that more residents benefit despite limited scholarship slots.
“These collaborative efforts with local government units strengthen our shared goal of providing accessible education and livelihood opportunities while ensuring no one is left behind,” Rasul said.
TESDA further promotes enterprise-based training under the “Training to Trabaho” initiative, allowing trainees to learn directly in workplaces through apprenticeship and dual training programs. This approach enhances job readiness, reduces skills mismatch, and increases the chances of immediate employment after training.
Data from TESDA show strong participation in skills training across South Cotabato, reflecting sustained interest in technical-vocational education as a pathway toward economic empowerment and workforce development.
In South Cotabato, there were at least 26, 000 residents graduated from various skills training in all delivery mode.
The provincial TESDA office also noted that at least 10, 000 graduated in institution-based training, 1,200 for enterprise-based training and 13, 243 residents who graduated from community-based trainings.
The continued collaboration between TESDA and the Provincial Government supports the broader free education agenda of South Cotabato, which aims to expand access to quality education, skills development, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for its people.
