LAWMAKER SEEKS TO ESTABLISH TESDA TRAINING CENTER IN LANAO DEL NORTE
SENATOR Imee Marcos has filed a measure seeking to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, to boost livelihood and employment opportunities in the province and the wider Northern Mindanao region.
Under Senate Bill No. 1384, or the proposed Tubod TESDA Training and Assessment Center Act, the facility will provide accessible and high-quality technical-vocational education and training programs, particularly for low-income families, out-of-school youth, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.
Marcos said the measure fulfills the mandate of the 1987 Constitution to promote quality education at all levels and aligns with Republic Act No. 7796, or the Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994.
Lanao del Norte’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries. With a population of over 722,000, Marcos said the province needs a stronger, better-trained workforce to sustain its economic growth and adapt to modern technologies.
The proposed center will offer specialized training aligned with the province’s economic profile—covering modern farming, aquaculture technologies, food processing, industrial trades, and livelihood skills.
The bill mandates that the funds needed to establish and operate the center be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, while the local government of Tubod will provide a counterpart fund to support its operations.
Marcos emphasized that the establishment of the Tubod TESDA Training and Assessment Center aims to empower communities by transforming residents into a productive, self-reliant, and globally competitive workforce.