The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have joined forces to help Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) and their families gain access to skills training, livelihood opportunities, and interventions that support their recovery, reintegration, and economic independence.
The two agencies formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on September 29, 2026, at the TESDA Central Office, Taguig City. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R Nerez and TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” B Benitez led the signing, witnessed by key officials from both agencies.
Under the agreement, PDEA will identify and refer qualified beneficiaries to appropriate TESDA programs and coordinate with local government units, rehabilitation partners, and community stakeholders to facilitate their participation. PDEA will also support training activities through advocacy, community mobilization, and logistical and administrative assistance.
TESDA, for its part, will provide technical-vocational education and training (TVET), skills development interventions, competency assessment, and national certification for qualified PDEA-referred clients and their families. Beneficiaries may likewise access available training and scholarship opportunities, subject to existing qualifications and resources. TESDA will also support capacity-building initiatives for PDEA personnel involved in preventive education and community engagement.
Beyond providing opportunities for employment and livelihood, the initiative recognizes skills development as an important component of drug abuse prevention. By equipping individuals with knowledge and practical skills, it can help foster self-worth, confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose, while creating pathways toward productive and meaningful participation in society.
The collaboration also supports the direction of the Enhanced Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (E-PADS), which was developed in line with the policy directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and advances a more balanced approach to addressing the country’s drug problem through supply reduction, drug demand reduction, and health, social, and developmental services. Through skills development, livelihood opportunities, and capacity-building, the PDEA-TESDA cooperation contributes to this approach by capacitating Filipinos with skills for legitimate employment and economic self-reliance, while addressing the socioeconomic vulnerabilities associated with the illegal drug trade.
“This partnership is about giving people a chance to move forward. When we give people the opportunity to learn, the capacity to work, and the support to rebuild, we give them something more valuable—the chance to build a better future,” DG Nerez said.
TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez underscored the importance of partnerships in expanding the agency’s ability to serve Filipinos. “Skills training is an avenue for empowerment. For communities affected by drugs, skills can help PDEA in achieving its goal of rebuilding lives and creating another path forward,” DG Benitez said.
The collaboration reflects the spirit of Bagong Pilipinas by creating meaningful pathways for recovery, self-reliance, and productive reintegration. It reinforces PDEA’s commitment to a balanced and humane approach to addressing the national drug problem—one that combines effective law enforcement with prevention, rehabilitation, reintegration, and socioeconomic support.
Reference:
Atty. Joseph Frederick R. Calulut, Chief, Public Information Office
