TESDA school in Agusan Norte produces job-ready graduates
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — A total of 184 students from the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF), under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), marched during the school’s 40th Commencement Exercises in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
This milestone symbolized not only perseverance and sacrifice, but also the life-changing opportunities brought by technical-vocational education.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., a strong supporter of TESDA and technical-vocational education and training (TVET), earlier affirmed the government’s commitment to this endeavor. “Technical-vocational education is not second-class education. It is a strong foundation that equips our youth with employable skills and empowers them to build better lives for themselves and their families.”
TESDA, through its specialized programs, has been at the heart of these students’ journey. By offering competency-based courses such as Fisheries Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Technology, Aquaculture, Food Processing, Masonry, Carpentry, and other trades, TESDA equips learners with the skills and National Certifications (NCs) that serve as passports to employment and livelihood. For many graduates, these programs transformed uncertainty into ambition, and ambition into achievement.
Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, keynote speaker, underscored this impact. “Success will only come through perseverance and effort,” she reminded the graduates, noting that while the government can provide the tools and opportunities, it is through TESDA’s training and the students’ determination that true transformation happens.”
To ensure that more youth can benefit, Gov. Amante also pledged to extend financial assistance to NMSF, helping graduates complete their NC requirements, a vital step in securing better employment both locally and abroad.
The graduates’ stories highlighted how TESDA provides not only skills, but it builds confidence, resilience, and hope. One story is from Robert Dela Cerna Comahig, a Diploma in Fisheries Technology graduate, who delivered an impression during the event. Despite financial challenges, he thrived through TESDA’s programs and earned four NCs during his three-year stay in NMSF, these include NC II in Masonry, Carpentry, Aquaculture, and Food Processing.
“Our success isn’t just about what we learned in the classroom; it is a testament to the strength we found when we had to go alone. We didn’t have a safety net, but we built our own foundation with grit and determination,” Comahig said, paying tribute to TESDA trainers, classmates, and families who stood with them.
He added, “At NMSF, we learned more than just technical skills. We learned about life, how to stand on our own, to work hard, and to believe in ourselves. We are not just diploma holders; we are future professionals, ready to make a difference.”
As they step into the next chapter, whether pursuing higher education or joining the workforce, these graduates carry with them the clear imprint of TESDA – practical skills, recognized certifications, strengthened confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
With the combined support of TESDA, NMSF, local leaders, and their families, they now embody the true essence of technical-vocational education: realizing dreams, shaping ambitions, and building stronger communities.
With this year’s theme, “Empowered Hands, Innovative and Mindful Minds: Shaping the Future with Purpose and Resilience,” the commencement exercises of the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries on August 15 mirrors TESDA’s role in shaping not only careers, but also the values and ambitions of its graduates. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
