PBBM: Gov’t investing big, leveraging tech in education, skills dev’t

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

BUSINESS AS USUAL. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. resumes public engagements on Thursday (Feb. 5, 2026), leading the launch of the TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application at the Makabagong San Juan Theater in San Juan City. This marks the President’s first public appearance since his Jan. 21 diagnosis of diverticulitis, which limited him to meetings and paperwork inside Malacañang for almost two weeks. (Photo: Presidential Communications Office/Facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government is making massive investments in education and skills development while leveraging technology to bring training and employment opportunities closer to Filipinos.

Marcos made the statement as he led the launch of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Skills Passport Mobile Application in San Juan City, calling the platform a key reform to modernize skills training and workforce development.

“Ito ngayon ang TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application. Isang hakbang ng pamahalaan upang mas mapalapit ang kasanayan at oportunidad sa bawat Pilipino (This is the TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application. It is a step by the government to bring skills and opportunities closer to every Filipino),” Marcos said.

The President underscored that technology has become inseparable from daily life, noting that learning, communication and work have largely shifted to digital platforms.

He said education and skills development remain the administration’s primary investments for long-term growth, revealing that more than PHP1 trillion has been allocated for education this year.

“Ang edukasyon at pagsasanay ang puhunan natin para sa isang maunlad na kinabukasan (Education and training are our investments for a prosperous future),” he said.

He also announced that TESDA received nearly PHP20 billion in funding for 2026, the largest budget in the agency’s history, to expand scholarships and skills training programs.

The TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application serves as an all-in-one digital platform where users can store verified credentials, access training and scholarships, explore job opportunities, and locate TESDA-accredited institutions.

The app also uses identity verification and data security features, including PhilSys validation and blockchain technology, to ensure the integrity of credentials.

Marcos said the platform would help employers verify qualifications and allow workers to plan their training and career pathways more efficiently.

Thursday’s event marked the President’s first public engagement since he was diagnosed with diverticulitis on Jan. 21.

On doctors’ advice, Marcos earlier limited his activities to meetings and paperwork inside Malacañang but continued to discharge his duties.