The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will roll out a nationwide digital “Skills Passport” in 2026 to centralize workers’ training credentials and simplify skills verification for employers, officials said.
Deputy Director General Sarge Colambo announced the initiative during DZRH’s Special on Saturday on January 3, calling it a key reform in modernizing technical-vocational education.
“Merong ini-implement by this quarter, ’yung eksperimento ng ating agency sa pamumuno ni Secretary Kiko Benitez, na-introduce niya ’yung konsepto ng Skills Passport na electronically,” Colambo said, explaining that the system will provide both trainers and learners with individual digital accounts that store verified training records.
“’Yung trainer at ’yung learner magkakaroon ng account, magka-access sa isang app na dun naka-store ’yung lahat ng kanyang qualifications,” Colambo said.
Colambo said the platform will also give users access to information on TESDA programs and available scholarships.
“Lahat ng mga training programs na natapos niya, at tsaka meron din ’yan access sa lahat ng information sa mga TESDA trainings pati available scholarships,” he said.
The TESDA official said the Skills Passport is designed to make hiring easier by allowing employers to directly view applicants’ verified credentials.
“So ’yung isang individual na interesado, pupunta na lang dun sa app na ’yun at makikita dun ’yung credentials nung learner, at tsaka ’yung employer din, hindi na mahihirapan mag-search pa kung anong qualification nung applicant na nag-aapply magtrabaho,” Colambo said.
Colambo said each learner will be assigned a unique digital identifier to ensure accuracy and prevent duplication.
“Magkakaroon ang isang learner ng unique identification, wala nang hahalo dun na iba pang information kundi lahat nandun na,” he said, adding that the system will track continuing education and skills upgrades over time.
“At tsaka kung halimbawa gusto mo pang mag-upgrade o kaya kumuha pa ng ibang courses—kasi unlimited naman ang pagpasok sa TESDA programs—kita ’yun dun sa history ng iyong mga training programs na nakuha na,” Colambo said.
Colambo said the initiative reflects changing employer preferences toward skills-based hiring, adding that the Skills Passport complements TESDA’s policy of widening access to training regardless of educational background.
“Hindi na hinihingi ’yung mga college degrees kundi ’yung mga kompetensya na meron ka. Ngayon binuksan na namin ito, kahit dropout siya na pwede na mag-enroll sa TESDA program,” Colambo said.
Colambo said TESDA expects the nationwide rollout to improve employability, mobility, and transparency in the labor market starting 2026: “We will make it happen.”
