619 iKalingas graduate from various skill training from Jan. to Aug. 2025 - TESDA-KALINGA

Tabuk City, Kalinga - A total of 619 iKalingas, ages 18-59, completed various skills training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) Kalinga in more than seven months of this year. 

This, according to the agency, is another accomplishment in helping residents in the area have a chance to improve their chances of getting skilled jobs and in turn obtain better income.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, TESDA-Kalinga Registrar III Ninjune Belit said the graduates came from different courses under the construction sector, such as tile setting, masonry I and II, carpentry NC II, and electrical installation NC II, as well as driving, English proficiency, facilitating e-learning sessions, bread and pastry production NC II, and organic agriculture NC II. 

TESDA scholarship and non-scholarship training 

According to BeliT, TESDA offers two types of training—the non-scholarship and the scholarship. 

Non-scholarship courses run for fifteen days and are free of entrance fees but do not provide monetary benefits. On the other hand, scholarship courses last for eighteen days, and trainees receive a P160 allowance per day with starter tool kits after completion of the training. 

“Diay non-scholarship awan iti maala da nga benefits, specifically monetary, pero nu scholarship ada iti maala da nga P160 allowance inaldaw. Then, after the nagtraining, nu maala da allowance da, ada pay ti starter toolkits da,” said Belit. 

Anyone with ages 18-59 years old can apply for the non-scholarship program, but for the scholarship one, specific guidelines of the agency will have to be followed.

Partnerships to ensure employment opportunities for graduates

The TESDA official said the agency does not just provide training and stop there. It actively seeks ways to link graduates to actual job opportunities through partnerships with both local government units (LGUs) and private companies.

These tie-ups allow trainees to undergo on-the-job training (OJT), and, in many cases, be absorbed into the workforce. She also shared that some companies directly fund TESDA training and hire graduates after completion.   

“Ada met dagiti ngay private. Kaspangarigan daytoy Automotive Services NCI, iyal-allow mi dagitoy studyante nga mabalin da ag OJT da kadagitoy private industries. Nu dagitoy met private nga kua tayo, kaspangarigan daytoy Makilala mining company diay Pasil. Nagfund da iti training, and isuda metlng mangabsorb kadagitoy gradutes tayo, like electrical. Ada metlng toy KAELCO mabalin da ag-OJT diay.” 

Requirements needed for those planning to enroll

To enroll for TESDA courses, one needs a copy of PSA birth certificate as the primary document. If the certificate is unclear, it must be accompanied by a valid government-issued identification card.

For women, a marriage certificate is required if applicable. 

For the youth interested in enrolling, Belit said they welcome everyone willing to learn skills, with no discrimination, no barriers, and only opportunity.

“Iti met mandato tayo ket mangiprovide skills training.” Haan tayo met mangdisdiscriminate ti color, lugar. They are welcome latta nga umay ditoy TESDA tapno kitaen da dagiti program mi nga available…basta ti edad na ket 18 to 59,”  she concluded.