TAGUIG CITY -- A total of 149,268 beneficiaries nationwide have finished various community-based training (CBT) programs for the first half of 2022, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has reported today.

TESDA Director General Danilo Cruz said these CBT programs are being implemented with the help of local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and civic groups, among others.

“Aside from our regular scholarship programs, we are also implementing the CBT to address the specific needs of a locality. The CBT is also applicable as we pursue an area-based and demand-driven tech-voc education and training,” he said.

Data showed that Region III has the highest number of graduates for CBT with 16,021, followed by Region II and Region XII with 13,251 and 12,848 graduates, respectively.  Region XII was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 12,228 graduates and Region VII with 11,477.

The CBT training programs are specifically designed to answer the needs of the barangays. It aims to enhance the citizens’ productivity through productive livelihood endeavors and self-employment.

It is one of the four training modalities conducted by TESDA. The other three are school-based, center-based, and enterprise-based training programs.

The TESDA Chief pointed out that the Agency will continue to implement such programs not only to address skills-job mismatch but also, most importantly, to provide better livelihood and employment opportunities for Filipinos.

“We will continue to strengthen our programs and forge new partnerships with LGUs and the private sector to better serve our countrymen through skills training and livelihood programs,” he said.

To date, there are over 8,000 CBT programs under various sectors, such as Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery; Automotive and Land Transport; Construction; Electrical and Electronics; Human Health/ Health Care, among others. (TESDA)