BUDGET FOR TESDA. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez (2nd from right) attends the budget deliberation with the House committee on appropriations in this Aug. 22, 2024 photo. In a press conference in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Monday (Aug. 26, 2024), he batted for an increase in TESDA's budget so they could fund reforms thay they would push. (Photo from Kiko Benitez Facebook page)
TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is expected to receive higher budgetary allocation in 2025 to support the reforms being pushed by the administration for technical-vocational education and training.
TESDA Director-General Jose Francisco Benitez said on Monday that during the budget deliberation of the House committee on appropriations last week, all the congressmen supported the move to increase the budget of TESDA.
“So, we will see by how much they will increase and where they will put it. I’m hoping there will be an increase because the reforms we will push will need budgetary support,” Benitez said in a press conference here.
One of these is enterprise-based training, or programs that are developed within companies and firms, which is not included in the current budget.
He said that for 2024, TESDA has a budget of around PHP21 billion, with a net amount of PHP18 billion.
Meanwhile, Benitez said that under the newly-formed Negros Island Region (NIR), the TESDA regional office will most probably be located in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
He added that based on the agreed upon implementing rules and regulations of the NIR Act, the technical working group (TWG) will have to designate satellite offices of national government agencies for accessibility and convenience.
“If it’s in Negros Oriental, chances are there will be a satellite office to be opened in Negros Occidental, but it’s up to the TWG to negotiate with the national government agency where such satellite office will be, depending on the availability of land, building and so on,” Benitez said.
In Negros Occidental, the TESDA Regional Training Center is located in Talisay City.
Benitez met with reporters at the Negros Occidental Third District Congressional Office here exactly a week after he assumed office as TESDA chief.
He was the representative of the district, comprising the cities of Talisay, Silay and Victorias as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Murcia, before he was appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to lead the TESDA last Aug. 16. (PNA)
