TACLOBAN CITY — The rollout of a digital skills passport by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has gained support from House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chair Rep. Jude Acidre, who said the initiative could help address persistent job-skills mismatch and underemployment among Filipino workers.
Acidre, co-chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), described the TESDA skills passport as a timely reform aligned with the commission’s final report, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reforms,” which called for urgent improvements in the country’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system.
The online platform allows learners and workers to securely store their training records, national certificates, and competencies in digital form. It also links users to scholarship opportunities, job matching services, and further training programs.
“As the nature of work continues to change, our skills systems must move faster and become more responsive,” Acidre said, noting that digital tools can help ensure workers’ qualifications are visible, portable, and recognized by employers.
Data from EDCOM II showed that employment rates among TVET graduates increased to 58 percent from 37 percent before training, one year after completion—highlighting TVET’s potential as a pathway to employment. However, the report also flagged weak alignment between scholarships, certifications, and actual labor market requirements, which may leave some graduates underemployed.
Acidre said the skills passport responds to the commission’s call for a learner-centered and industry-aligned TVET system, but stressed that reforms must go beyond expanding training slots.
“The challenge now is not simply expanding training, but ensuring that every credential earned leads to real employment,” he said.
He also underscored the need to strengthen implementation of measures such as the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, which promotes industry-led training, apprenticeships, and upskilling.
Acidre maintained that TVET should be positioned as a credible route to decent work rather than a fallback option to higher education.
“With the right tools and policies in place, we can ensure that Filipino learners are equipped for the future of work,” he said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
