Repatriated overseas Filipino workers from the Middle East who cannot immediately take advantage of government-offered skills training may hand their scholarship slots to family members, the country’s technical education chief said Friday.
TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez disclosed the arrangement at a press conference, noting that the benefit is structured as a voucher system. “The slots are in the form of a voucher/certificate, and they could transfer these to their families,” he said.
The agency has set aside 8,000 scholarship slots under the repatriation program, though distribution has been slow. Only around 2,000 certificates had been released as of Friday, prompting Benitez to urge eligible workers to come forward and claim them.
Redemption requires no complicated process — OFWs or their relatives simply need to present the certificate at any TESDA office or accredited institution to enroll in a course.
Available programs span multiple industries, including information technology, caregiving, hospitality, and construction. Benitez added that TESDA is prepared to provide guidance to those considering entrepreneurship after completing their training. “They could choose from a variety of courses. We will also guide them if in case they want to establish their own business after undergoing the training,” he said.
The scholarship initiative is part of a broader reintegration package that includes skills assessment and certification, designed to move repatriated workers toward stable employment or livelihood as quickly as possible.
