By Robinson Cabardo Jr. CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines (PIA) — A 22-year-old Talisay City resident has found new livelihood opportunities after completing a bread and pastry production course under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Trexcy E. Montillano, a resident of Barangay Lawaan and a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Talisay City College, said she decided to apply after a neighbor shared positive experiences from enrolling in the same program. “I have a neighbor who applied for the scholarship at TMJ, and she shared with me her good experiences where she learned new skills from the training, which pushed me to also apply for the scholarship program,” Montillano said. Montillano enrolled in Bread and Pastry Production training under TWSP despite the course being outside her degree field. “My college course is not really aligned with bread and pastry; however, I wanted to learn baking skills, which pushed me to apply for TWSP and gain new skills in bread and pastry production,” she said. “I immediately grabbed the opportunity to learn other skills that I could use to enter other fields of work, while also receiving an allowance, which helps ease my expenses,” Montillano added. Training for Work Scholarship Program The TWSP is one of TESDA’s flagship scholarship programs, providing free technical-vocational training to improve Filipinos’ employability, livelihood prospects, and overseas job opportunities. The program covers free training, competency assessment, and certification, and a training support fund of P160 per training day. The allowance amount varies depending on the course duration. TESDA Cebu Provincial Director Carlito F. Quintano said there were 7,700 TWSP graduates in Cebu in 2025, with 5,300 approved slots available for 2026. “In TWSP, applicants must be at least 18 years old to qualify since the program is intended for employment and the minimum legal age for regular employment is 18 years old,” Quintano said. TESDA scholars receive training support fund allowances from the TESDA Cebu Provincial Office under the Training for Work Scholarship Program. (Photo from TESDA Cebu Facebook page) For 2026, TESDA Cebu received 5,300 approved TWSP slots with a total budget of P122.96 million. As of April 2026, 2,332 slots remained available in Central Visayas, with P55.99 million in remaining funds. The TWSP expansion in Cebu is part of a broader national push for technical-vocational education. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited TESDA’s training facilities in Taguig City on Oct. 10, 2025, reaffirming the administration’s priority for skills development. TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez has said 2026 marks the biggest budget in the agency’s history, enabling expanded training and scholarship programs across the country. Quintano said while most slots go to bread and pastry production, TESDA is also expanding into upskilling courses in the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), with new programs for semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. Training duration varies by course: Bread and Pastry Production requires 140 hours, driving and massage therapy require 120 hours, and healthcare-related courses require 960 hours. TESDA has urged interested applicants to contact its offices or any accredited training center to inquire about available slots, application requirements, and enrollment procedures. “This scholarship allocation is ongoing. We are currently accepting scholars — you can visit our TESDA offices in Cebu or go to any accredited training center for further details. We still have available slots, so please take advantage of these opportunities, as this can help you in your future employment,” Quintano said. From December 2025 to January 2026, Montillano completed a month-long training program at TMJ Technology Skills Training Institute Assessment Center in Talisay City, where she acquired practical skills in bread and pastry production. After completing the program, Montillano received a Bread and Pastry National Certificate II (NC II) from TESDA, which she said has helped her pursue better employment and livelihood opportunities. While helping her sister run the bread business, she is also looking for employment. “TWSP has really helped me a lot. The biggest impact is the new skills I learned, which I can use for employment, livelihood, or other job opportunities. At the same time, I also received an allowance that served as financial support,” Montillano said. She urged students to explore technical-vocational training through TESDA. “For students who want to explore other skills or engage in different fields, I urge you to apply for TESDA’s TWSP because it offers great opportunities and you can really learn actual skills through hands-on training. Just focus on the training because it will really help you in your future employment or if you want to establish your own business,” she said. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
