THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority got the highest approval rating among all government agencies for its performance in the past 12 months, according to an independent pollster.

The first quarter PAHAYAG survey of PUBLiCUS Asia showed that TESDA got a high approval rating of 62.1 percent.  It was followed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines at 60.1 percent and the Department of Social Welfare and Development at 13.9 percent.

TESDA also obtained the second highest trust rating — 42.8 percent, just a few points behind the AFP which got 43.9 percent.

The survey was conducted nationwide covering 1,500 respondents during the period of March 20-29, 2021.

TESDA chief Isidro Lapeña said the agency’s high ratings may be attributed to its advocacy of helping displaced workers find employment by upskilling or reskilling their competencies. The agency was also seen at the forefront of creating small livelihood opportunities amid the high number of joblessness.

At the height of the Covid19 last year, TESDA launched and intensified several projects catering to displaced workers, OFWs, indigenous peoples, and former rebels. It reached out to impoverished communities with numerous programs from agriculture to construction-related and other tech-voc trainings.

When the pandemic began, the agency helped produce and distribute face masks, face shields, protective body suits, sanitizers and disinfectants to uniformed personnel, health workers and other frontliners.

“I thank the Filipinos for their trust in the agency and recognizing what it is mandated to do. I assure the public that you can expect more from TESDA and we will continue delivering services despite the challenges and risks brought by the pandemic. It is during this most difficult time that we have to do more for the people,” Lapeña said.