Geographic and Demographic Context

Masbate, located in the Bicol Region, is composed of 20 municipalities and one component city, with a population of over 908,000. The province is geographically diverse and includes coastal areas, plains, and mountainous regions. The population is predominantly young, with many senior high school students—an important target market for TESDA and other skills training programs.

Agriculture, fisheries, mining, services, and emerging sectors such as tourism and light manufacturing drive Masbate’s economy. However, around 10,000 households still live below the poverty threshold due to challenges in productivity, limited employment opportunities, and insufficient access to services.

TVET Infrastructure and Capacity

  • Training Providers: 34 TVET providers (as of June 2025), including 10 farm schools and 2 TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs), 21 private TVIs, and 1 LGU-run institution.

  • Assessment Centers: 10 accredited centers.

  • Trainers and Assessors: 166 NTTC-certified trainers and 92 competency assessors.

  • TVET Programs: 119 registered programs, with Agriculture, Tourism, and Construction as the top sectors.

  • Enrollment Trends: A total of 56,865 individuals enrolled from 2017 to 2022. Enrollment dropped in 2020 due to the pandemic but rebounded in the following years.

  • Graduates and Certification: 51,920 graduates and 26,585 certifications from 2017 to 2022. The certification rate improved to 85% by 2022.

Priority and Emerging Sectors in Masbate

1. Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery

  • Largest sector in terms of enrollment and TVET programming.
  • Top qualifications: Organic Agriculture Production NC II, Animal Production NC II, and Agricultural Crops Production NC II.
  • High urgency for skills development due to Masbate’s dependence on farming and livestock.
  • Gaps: Limited number of trainers and assessment centers in rural areas.

2. Construction

  • Identified as having the highest demand for skilled workers.
  • Top qualifications: Heavy Equipment Operation, Gas Welding, Photovoltaic Installation.
  • Strong alignment with infrastructure projects funded under the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan.
  • Gaps: Only 30% of needed programs are registered; significant shortage of assessors.

3. Tourism (Hotel and Restaurant)

  • Growing sector with strong potential due to Masbate’s beaches, festivals (e.g., Rodeo Masbateño), and natural attractions.
  • Key qualifications: Food and Beverage Services, Housekeeping, Tourism Promotion.
  • Gaps: Only 31.25% of identified skills have existing training infrastructure.

4. Manufacturing

  • Supported by local enterprises in food processing, welding, metalworks, and marine products.
  • Highly relevant to the development of coconut charcoal, processed meat, and marine goods.
  • Gaps: Despite full TR availability, only half have registered programs and competent trainers.

5. Logistics (Emerging Sector)

  • Includes warehousing, trucking, distribution, and port operations.
  • 100% of skills identified are high-urgency.
  • Only 14.29% of needed TVET programs are offered.
  • Requires significant investment in infrastructure, assessors, and program registration.