PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged 1,150 new graduates from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to leverage their newly acquired competencies to create better opportunities for their families and actively drive national economic progress.
Addressing the graduates during a mass graduation ceremony at the Ilocos Norte National High School Gymnasium, President Marcos reaffirmed the national government’s stance on prioritizing human capital development through technical-vocational education and training (TVET).
“Kapag namumuhunan tayo sa kakayahan ng Pilipino, namumuhunan tayo sa mas matatag na pamilya, mas masiglang ekonomiya, at mas magandang kinabukasan ng bansa,” President Marcos stated, noting that earning their credentials marks both the culmination of their dedication and the foundation for self-reliance.
The graduating batch represented 23 TESDA-accredited institutions across Ilocos Norte.
The cohort included 800 scholars under the Training for Work Scholarship Program and Special Training for Employment Program, 325 individuals finishing Early Childhood Care and Development Services NC III, and 25 graduates from the Enterprise-Based Education and Training program.
Graduates completed industry-aligned courses in demand sectors, including Heavy Equipment Operation, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Computer Systems Servicing NC II, Cookery NC II, Barista NC II, Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Dressmaking NC II, and Agricultural Crops Production.
Highlighting the dual benefit of TVET, President Marcos emphasized that skill mastery enables both gainful employment and sustainable entrepreneurship, noting that many alumni go on to launch enterprises that generate job opportunities.
TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez commended the graduates for completing their training and achieving their National Certificates through competency assessments.
Benitez highlighted that the milestone reflects far more than the end of a course—it stands as a clear testament to their perseverance, drive, and complete readiness to step into the workforce.
Calling technical-vocational education the “shortest runway to employment,” Benitez emphasized its power to build vital skills, unlock individual potential, and change lives quickly to help build the nation.
The TESDA chief urged the new graduates to embrace their roles moving forward not merely as TESDA alumni, but as active ambassadors of lifelong learning and tech-voc education.
The event was attended by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Representatives Sandro Marcos and Angelo Barba, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, and local chief executives from across the province.
