TO boost workforce competitiveness and reduce dependency on short-term assistance, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) have linked skills training directly to employment and livelihood opportunities.
The agreement establishes a structured “graduation system” that will help beneficiaries move from government assistance toward sustainable jobs, entrepreneurship and self-employment.
Under the Supplemental Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC), beneficiaries will be directed to either an Employment Track or a Livelihood Track, depending on their skills, socioeconomic condition and career goals.
The initiative supports the administration’s whole-of-government approach to improving workforce competitiveness through upskilling and reskilling programs.
It also seeks to bring opportunities closer to the people through coordinated interventions that promote long-term employment and livelihood outcomes.
The Supplemental JMC was signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino and Tesda Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez during a ceremony at the Tesda Central Office.
Tolentino described the partnership as a convergence of government agencies working together to create broader opportunities particularly for young people seeking training and future business prospects.
He said the initiative forms part of DOLE’s effort to transform the traditional Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) program from a short-term emergency employment scheme into a platform that promotes economic self-sufficiency.
WILLIAM DEPASUPIL
Under the enhanced framework, beneficiaries may undergo Tesda’s training programs and receive support that can help them start their own businesses.
The move advances Tolentino’s vision of integrating entrepreneurship and livelihood development into Tupad, making the program more sustainable and empowering for disadvantaged workers.
Benitez said the partnership will ensure that learners and workers are not left on their own after completing their training, emphasizing the need to provide a clear pathway toward employment.
Under the agreement, beneficiaries of Tupad and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program who need additional skills development may be referred to Tesda training programs to improve their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.
Among the available interventions is the Special Training for Employment Program, which provides free skills training, competency assessments, starter toolkits and daily training allowances while equipping participants with industry-relevant competencies.
The partnership also establishes a two-way referral system, allowing Tesda graduates to access DOLE livelihood assistance, career counseling, job referrals and employment matching services, creating a seamless pathway from training and temporary assistance to sustainable livelihoods and decent work.
