Lacson: Restore TESDA’s R14.6-B 2019 budget

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Friday pressed for the restoration of the R 4.8 billion slashed from the 2019 budget of theTechnical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that it could fulfill its functions for the coming fiscal year.

While TESDA’s 2019 budget was slashed from R14.676 billion to R9.815 billion supposedly due to its low obligation rate, it was not the fault of the agency, Lacson said.

Lacson pointed out that TESDA received the budget from the Commission on Higher Education in September 2018.

“So there was little time to obligate. That is the reason why they have a very low obligation rate in 2018, only 58 percent,” he said at the budget deliberations for the TESDA at the Senate session hall.

“I suppose the low obligation rate is the justification for not giving them enough money because they could not absorb the money. But it’s not their own doing. Had they received their portion of the budget earlier, they could have obligated much larger portion of their budget,” he added.

Lacson said documents furnished to him showed the TESDA’s situation is “pathetic,” with its scarcity of funds forcing it to serve only 2.7 percent of its potential clientele for the last three years.

He said he is willing to help look for other sources of funding for the TESDA’s 2019 budget.

“I’d like to reiterate my appeal on behalf of TESDA, give back the R4.8 billion,” he added.