Want Free Skills Training in Cebu? What to Know About TESDA Scholarships

At the opening of a TESDA caravan in Cebu, TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez said the agency is aiming for 650,000 scholars in 2026, which he described as TESDA's biggest scholarship budget. By mid-year, fewer than 200,000 scholarships had been distributed, and distribution was still ongoing.

That suggests slots may still be available, so it is worth asking your nearest TESDA office.

TESDA's official scholarship page describes these programmes:

• TWSP (Training for Work Scholarship Program): training linked to jobs in priority sectors such as BPO, metals and engineering, construction and tourism, aimed at quick employment at home or overseas.
• PESFA (Private Education Student Financial Assistance): educational grants for qualified and deserving students in post-secondary courses.
• STEP (Special Training for Employment Program): community-based, short courses for livelihood and self-employment. The page lists free training, competency assessment and starter toolkits.
• UAQTEA: free tuition and other school fees in state and local universities and colleges and state-run technical-vocational institutions, under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

The page lists an online application link for these programmes. Programme details and slots change from year to year, so ask TESDA which ones are open now.

The Kayang-Kaya ALL-IN-ONE Caravan opened at SM Seaside City Cebu in early May 2026 as a one-stop service for Cebuanos. It brought several services together in one place:

• Short-term skills training for upskilling
• Competency assessment
• A job fair for job seekers
• TESDA Skills Passport registration, described as career guidance
• Enrollment and a Training Induction Program
• Opening of LandBank accounts so allowances for scholars are paid directly to them

The caravan has already opened, so check TESDA Cebu's announcements for the next one near you.

Besides general scholarships, TESDA partners with other agencies for specific groups. In early 2026, for example, GSIS and TESDA opened 25 slots for GSIS Cebu in Automotive Services, for unemployed dependents of GSIS members and pensioners. Applications ran from January 20 to February 18, 2026, and that window has closed. Programmes like this show why it helps to follow TESDA and your employer's or agency's announcements.

On November 4, 2026, TESDA announced wider access to free and flexible training in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital skills. Jobseekers, students, working professionals and teachers can join. Highlights include:

• Scholarship training with STI College in Data Collection and Annotation (Data Science/AI) Level II and AI Prompting for Automation Level III
• Online courses through the TESDA Online Program, including AWS Fundamentals of AI, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and AWS Certified AI Practitioner
• Courses in data analytics, programming, cybersecurity, digital marketing and e-commerce

TESDA also launched the TESDA Skills Passport in February 2026, a free app that brings information on training, assessment and certification, scholarships and jobs into one place. You can download it from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

1. Check TESDA's scholarship page at tesda.gov.ph for the online application link, or download the TESDA Skills Passport app.
2. Visit or call the TESDA Cebu Provincial Office at Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City, telephone (032) 415-1518 or (032) 412-7157, email [email protected]. The TESDA Region VII (Central Visayas) office is at Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City, telephone (032) 412-0307 or (032) 412-0306, email [email protected].
3. Ask which courses currently have scholarship slots and which documents you need to bring.
4. Ask how training allowances, if any, are released. At the Cebu caravan, scholars' allowances were set up through LandBank accounts.
5. Keep an eye on your city or municipal hall and barangay announcements, since local governments sometimes help enrol residents.

Requirements, courses and slots differ by programme and by location, so confirm the details with TESDA before you go.

Always deal with official TESDA offices, accredited training centres and verified announcements, and be careful with anyone who asks for payment to "reserve" a slot. If in doubt, ask the TESDA office directly.

Have you or someone in your family taken a TESDA course in Cebu? Share what you learned in the comments.