THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority thanked the Department of Budget and Management for releasing the agency’s P3.410-billion budget for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

The budget is higher than the P2.910 billion allocation in 2022

“The budget allocation to TESDA for the implementation of UAQTEA, which is higher this 2023 compared to the previous years, is crucial in providing tech-voc training to Filipinos, specifically to those who cannot afford to go to college,” TESDA Director General Danilo Cruz said.

Cruz, however, said that TESDA needs an additional budget to cover the cost of training for new entrants to the program.

Higher-level technical vocational education and training or 3-year diploma programs are being funded under the UAQTEA.

TESDA spokesperson Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz III said that UAQTEA scholars receive benefits such as free tuition and miscellaneous fees, as well as allowance for national competency assessment, learning materials, one-year accident insurance, and a training support fund.

The Diploma programs also offer workers and tech-voc graduates more ways to upgrade their qualifications or proceed to further studies in college.

TESDA has over 500 diploma programs. In 2022, the agency reported 4,526 graduates of the 3-year diploma programs.