Senator Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday called out the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for its low utilization rate, particularly on its scholarship distribution during its Senate budget hearing on Tuesday.
Tulfo cited findings by the Commission on Audit (COA), which flagged TESDA for P3.6 billion worth of uncorrected accounting errors and omissions.
He also noted that P574.9 million worth of scholarships were granted to learners with doubtful eligibility, while P197.4 million in scholarship allowances were prematurely released, unreleased, or unclaimed.
“Kaya po nakakapagtaka, masyado pong glaring… Parang nagsasayang ho tayo ng pera samantalang kailangan ng ibang agency, yung buidget na yan doon na lang natin ilagay doon na lang sa CHED... maraming mga college students na nag-aaral,” the lawmaker said.
TESDA, meanwhile, said it is already coordinating with COA, along with its regional and provincial offices, to address the issues.
“We noticed that the problem is really more structural po… there are issues with respect to rectification and validation of records po,” TESDA District Director Cariza Dacuna said in response, highlighting the need for budget and finance staff within the agency.
Tulfo, however, remained unsatisfied with the response: “Yung sagot ninyo hindi ko ma-digest, parang inikot-ikot niyo lang ako.”
COA said it has already issued an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) and is currently validating TESDA's documents and liquidation reports. The results of the validation are expected to be released in October.
TESDA is proposing a P21.20-billion budget for 2027 and is requesting an additional P5.7 billion to accommodate 162,000 more scholars and host WorldSkills Asia 2027, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez explained.
Tulfo, however, said he would not support any additional funding for TESDA while the audit issues remain unresolved.
“I’m not satisfied… I believe tama lang ho yung budget ninyo. Kung pagdadagdag po, I totally disagree at this point,” Tulfo ended his questioning.
Apart from the audit concerns, Senator Migs Zubiri also raised the issue of fully utilizing TESDA training centers in the provinces, particularly in his home province of Bukidnon.
Senator Bong Go, meanwhile, questioned the agency over programs that remain unimplemented despite being funded as early as 2025.
TESDA has a budget utilization rate of 76 percent in 2025 and only 28 percent in 2026, Go noted.
“Maghi-hearing tayo ng budget for 2027, pero marami pang backlog from 2025 na budget,” he added.
Senator Joel Villanueva who chaired the budget hearing for TESDA however also called for the agency’s close coordination as the senators will further discuss the proposed budget in plenary.
“You have to help me defend the budget, you have to help me defend why we need increase, why we need to put more funds sa TESDA, not just because si ‘TESDA man’ daw ako,” the lawmaker said.