THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to implement stricter transparency and targeting mechanisms for its scholarship programs, citing that massive budget increases have been accompanied by leakages, weak beneficiary selection, and limited outcome monitoring.

Despite the influx of funds, the report pointed to a decline in the targeting of disadvantaged scholars between 2018 and 2022.

Citing a study conducted by Christopher Chua through the EDCOM 2–Ateneo Fellowship, the Commission flagged risks of politicization in the distribution of scholarship slots, with respondents noting that allocation often depends on connections rather than qualifications.

The report also noted that congressional insertions frequently direct funds to specific districts or favored institutions, a practice identified during hearings as a persistent source of complaints within the sector.

Senator Loren Legarda emphasized the urgent need to realign resources with their original intent of promoting social equity.

“The studies reveal a disturbing trend where the very people who need these scholarships the most are being pushed to the sidelines. We cannot allow public funds intended for the marginalized to be diverted due to weak targeting or political expediency. We must restore the equity focus of our TVET programs to ensure that skills training becomes a genuine ladder to employment for the poorest Filipinos,” Legarda said.

Rep. Jude Acidre also lamented the politicization of scholarships.

“It is deeply concerning that while our budget for scholarships has grown nearly twentyfold, our ability to reach the most disadvantaged scholars has actually declined. We cannot allow a system where access to skills training depends on connections rather than qualifications, or where funds are diverted to low-level courses that do not lead to gainful employment. We must urgently adopt the Commission’s recommendation for a needs-based allocation system to ensure that these public funds are shielded from political patronage and truly invested in the future of the Filipino workforce,” Acidre said.

The lack of strategic allocation has contributed to a training landscape heavily concentrated on low-level qualifications.

The report revealed that 93 percent of TESDA graduates complete only National Certificate I and II programs, with enrollments dominated by courses such as Driving and Bread and Pastry Production.

Furthermore, private technical-vocational institutions often face sustainability challenges as public institutions offering subsidized courses divert enrollees, resulting in voucher inefficiencies.

Senator Joel Villanueva, a former TESDA director general, stressed that funding must be tied strictly to labor market demand and program integrity.

To address these systemic flaws, EDCOM 2 recommended that TESDA conduct a comprehensive review of its scholarship programs to ensure they are equitable, responsive, and sustainable.

The Commission also called for the redesign of targeting mechanisms to adopt quota- or needs-based allocation, prioritizing high-poverty provinces, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and underserved institutions.

It further advocated the regular indexation of scholarship voucher values to inflation and actual training costs, alongside enhancements to digital data systems to track trainee progression and employment outcomes, ensuring evidence-based funding tied to measurable results.