A NEW legislative measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives aiming to eliminate financial hurdles for skilled workers seeking official certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

House Bill No. 6809, authored by Representative Javier Miguel Benitez, seeks to provide free competency assessments for the issuance of TESDA National Certificates (NC) to non-scholar applicants.

According to the bill’s explanatory note, TESDA National Certificates serve as vital proof of competency and qualifications that are widely recognized by industries both locally and internationally.

However, free assessment services have traditionally been accessible only to TESDA scholars or through limited government program allocations. Many self-trained individuals, out-of-school youth, informal sector workers, and industry practitioners seeking certification through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are often deterred by prohibitive assessment fees.

Citing findings from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the measure highlights that individuals unable to afford assessment fees are routinely deprived of official certification, thereby limiting their employability and economic mobility.

If passed into law, the measure will institutionalize free TESDA assessments nationwide, ensuring that financial constraints no longer stand as a barrier to formal skill recognition and employment opportunities for Filipino workers.