THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority got the highest approval rating among all government agencies, the second quarter survey of PUBLiCUS Asia showed.

According to the latest PAHAYAG survey, TESDA ranked first in the approval ratings with 72 percent, higher than its 49.9 percent rating during the PAHAYAG first quarter survey released in April 2022.

The respondents said they approve or strongly approve of TESDA’s  overall performance throughout President Rodrigo Duterte administration, the pollster said.

TESDA was followed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Commission on Elections with 69 percent and 66 percent approval ratings respectively.

The skills training agency also ranked second in trust ratings with 60 percent behind the AFP with 63 percent. Comelec placed third with 58 percent trust rating.

The survey was conducted nationwide from June 16-22, 2022 and covered 1,500 respondents.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña attributed the agency’s continuous high approval and trust ratings to the programs and services it has given to the public, particularly those who are in far-flung areas amid the Covid19 pandemic.

“Since 2021, TESDA has always been in the top of PUBLiCUS Asia surveys. It is a testament of our guiding principle, ‘TESDA Abot Lahat’ where we give skills and livelihood programs to our kababayans particularly those who are in remote areas,” the TESDA chief said.

“I would like to thank all our kababayans for their continued support to Tesda. We hope that more Filipinos will benefit from free quality tech-voc training from Tesda, especially at this time that we are gearing towards post pandemic recovery,” Lapeña added.

During Lapeña’s term as TESDA Director General, a total of 7,040,888 Filipinos have enrolled in various skills training courses from TESDA training centers and partner tech-voc institutions, of which, 6,558,214 have finished their respective courses. Further, 4,869,017 were assessed and 4,534,887 were certified as skilled workers.