Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said he will be working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to open a training center for solar panel installation.
Tolentino identified solar panel installation as one of the most urgent skills gaps in the Philippine labor market as the country shifts toward renewable energy and demand for solar installation services outstrips the available workforce.
The Labor chief made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on Thursday, September 10, raising the initiative he discussed with TESDA during a budget hearing the previous day.
He said the gap is already visible to ordinary Filipinos: households and businesses that want to install solar panels are facing long wait times because there are not enough trained installers to meet demand.
“Ibig sabihin, labor force. So i-try natin, ito ang pangangailangan ngayon. Magshi-shift tayo sa renewable energy. Kung dati maraming kailangan na welder, shini-ship natin palabas ng bansa, dito naman sa loob sa atin, mahal ang kuryente kaya nai-charge natin ang solar energy. Papaano ang pagkakabit n’un? So ‘yun ang tagubilin ko sa TESDA na bigyan din ng puwang ang kabataan na matuto ng ganoon,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino said he raised the solar installation training gap with TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez during a budget hearing, proposing that a TESDA center be opened to make training accessible to young Filipinos who want to enter the renewable energy sector.
The Labor chief said the solar panel installation push reflects a broader push for TESDA to anticipate emerging skills demand rather than simply retrain workers for industries that are already well-supplied.
He said the Philippines has a strong tradition of exporting skilled tradespeople, including welders who are in high demand abroad, and the same model can work domestically if TESDA targets fast-growing sectors like solar installation, renewable energy maintenance, and energy efficiency services.
Tolentino said young Filipinos who train in solar installation can expect strong domestic demand for years to come as the government and private sector accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources.
