The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was urged to help address the Philippines’ widening jobs mismatch by offering “future-ready” courses focused on harnessing the digital skills of the country’s workforce.
Parañaque Second District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, in filing House Bill (HB) 4037, seeks to expand the programs offered by TESDA to cover digital skills and emerging technologies.
These include courses on artificial intelligence (AI), software development and coding, game design, cybersecurity, digital marketing, robotics, and 3-D printing.
“In this digital age, the labor market is constantly evolving. We need to make sure that our labor force can always catch up by mandating TESDA to broaden its accredited course offerings to include programs that would arm our workers with ‘future-ready’ skills,” said Yamsuan, a member of the House Committee on Labor and Employment.
The lawmaker also cited a 2021 report by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), which pointed out that current Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs are largely ineffective in curbing underemployment among young people.
The same report found that six in every 10 Filipino workers are employed in elementary or agricultural occupations, and jobs are often reliant on basic skills.
According to PIDS, studies also indicate that while 39% of employed Filipinos are overqualified for their jobs, 29% lack the necessary qualifications and skills.
In his home city of Parañaque, Yamsuan noted that there are multiple buildings accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), reflecting the continued demand for information technology (IT) and technology-enabled services.
“The demand is there, but the skills are lacking. These are high-value jobs that many of our workers cannot fill because they lack the skills needed by employers,” Yamsuan said.
Under HB 4037, TESDA is mandated to review and update, if necessary, its courses and programs every three years to ensure that the agency remains responsive to market demands, “with the goal of future-proofing the Filipino workforce.”
