SCHOLARS of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority can now receive their allowances via GCash.

On March 23, TESDA and G-Xchange, Inc. announced the nationwide implementation of their partnership to provide scholars the option to receive their Training Support Fund through GCash.

The pilot implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement signed by TESDA and GXI

in the National Capital Region and Regions IV-A, VII, and XI was carried out last year.

TESDA’s adoption of GCash is seen as a move to achieve efficiency during the pandemic as TSF distribution will be remitted digitally, saving its scholars the trouble of going to field offices to receive their allowances.

“This is our response to the New Normal. The pandemic has altered the ordinary way of doing things and TESDA has to keep pace,” TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña said.

The TESDA chief added that as part of its “Oplan TESDA Abot Lahat: TVET towards the New Normal,” the agency has been looking for ways to serve its clients amid pandemic without compromising their safety.

“We need to protect the welfare of both our scholars and personnel and lessen face-to-face transactions,” Lapeña said.

TESDA scholars need only to download the GCash app on their smartphones and coordinate with authorized TESDA representative to receive their training support fund of P160 per training day and other allowances for internet and uniform.

The release of training allowances via GCash is not mandatory. Scholars are free to choose whether they want to receive their allowances through checks or thru their GCash accounts.

TESDA is also planning to tap LandBank of the Philippines for the release of allowances of scholars under the Diploma Programs and Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.