A provincial skills training program is getting a policy overhaul as Cebu moves to tighten qualifications, improve oversight, and align training with job market.
The Cebu Provincial Government has amended its flagship Sugbo Kahanas Program, with the provincial board approving new rules and funding provisions aimed at strengthening skills training and improving employment outcomes.
The amended ordinance was passed by the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its regular session on April 13, 2026.
It introduces revised eligibility requirements, structured implementation guidelines, and enhanced monitoring mechanisms for program execution.
Under the new rules, beneficiaries must be registered voters and residents of Cebu, and at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Applicants are also required to meet admission and qualification standards set by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Central Visayas (TESDA-7) and partner technical-vocational institutions.
The ordinance limits program implementation to TESDA-accredited institutions to standardize training quality across all courses.
It also strengthens coordination among provincial offices and partner agencies involved in delivery and monitoring.
Funding support remains a key component of the program, with the provincial government allocating P130 million per implementation cycle under the amended ordinance.
The provincial board also created a Sugbo Kahanas Program Governing Council to set policies and oversee implementation.
The council will be chaired by the governor, while the chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Higher and Technical Education will serve as vice-chairperson.
Board Members Michael Joseph Villamor and Paz Rozgoni sponsored the measure.
Sugbo Kahanas, first institutionalized through Ordinance No. 2024-08, serves as a community-based skills development program aimed at building technical capability and employability among Cebuanos.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro earlier said the program will continue but with improvements to strengthen employment outcomes.
She said the initiative “must evolve,” emphasizing the need to align training courses with labor market demands to improve job placement and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Implemented in partnership with TESDA, the program has reached more than 20,000 beneficiaries across four cycles since its launch.
For its latest rollout, the province allocated P200 million, its highest funding to date, with 8,291 participants qualifying. (SBA)
Image courtesy of Philippine News Agency
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