SENATOR Loren Legarda stressed the need for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to evolve with industry standards.

“We have one of the most skilled and hardworking workforces in the world, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they remain employable, adaptable, and ready for the future,” Legarda said.

The senator urged her colleagues to support Senate Bill No. 1413, or the TESDA Modernization Act of 2025.

The measure seeks to strengthen and restructure TESDA, whose charter has remained largely unchanged since its establishment in 1994.

Thirty years after the passage of Republic Act No. 7796, also known as the TESDA Act of 1994, Legarda said the agency must be updated to meet the evolving demands of education and the labor market.

The proposed measure aligns TESDA’s mandate with the principles of lifelong learning, higher-level skills development, and the pursuit of a quality-assured Filipino workforce.

“Our people must be equipped with the right skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work,” the four-term senator said.

“This bill will ensure that TESDA delivers high-quality and relevant training that helps Filipinos build better futures for themselves and their families,” she added.