PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte commended the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for increasing workers’ employability despite the Covid19 pandemic.

In his final State of the Nation Address, Duterte said over 1.5 million employees have availed of TESDA’s online program since the onset of the pandemic.

He instructed TESDA to ensure the upskilling of employees, including overseas Filipino workers.

Duterte said this move will rehabilitate the economy and help the hardest hit sectors recover.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said they are dedicated to put more emphasis in “retooling and upskilling the Filipino people.”

Lapeña also pledged that they will continue to provide scholarship programs.

Meanwhile, TESDA deputy director-general Aniceto Bertiz said on Wednesday that the agency assisted about 586,000 OFWs through its online training program.

Bertiz noted that 383,000 returning OFWs were assisted through the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs.

He added that the agency launched the OFW Reintegration via Skills and Entrepreneurship for repatriated OFWs who would like to make a living in the country.

TESDA offers over 60 courses that can be completed in eight to 40 hours.

These online courses include Agriculture, Construction, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Maritime, Automotive, Electrical and Electronics.