From Housing to Higher Income: SHFC Partners With TESDA to Train Filipino Families
Filipino families housed through the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) are getting a path to higher income. A new partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) brings them skills training and livelihood opportunities.
The two government agencies sealed the deal through a Memorandum of Agreement signed Thursday, Oct. 29, in Taguig City. SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa and TESDA Director General and Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez signed for their agencies.
“This is a momentous occasion not only for us but also for our thousands of beneficiaries,” Laxa said. “As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., we want our programs to be more transformative and responsive to the needs of our beneficiaries.”
SHFC Expands Partnerships Beyond Housing
The TESDA deal came just two days after SHFC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Reclamation Authority. That agreement will explore a vertical housing project in Metro Manila.
“Our marching order from DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling is to link up with fellow government agencies to provide more benefits to families aside from housing units and land titles,” Laxa added. SHFC is widening its partnerships beyond housing.
TESDA Training Programs for Families
The partnership will initially benefit members of Megaville 2 HOA, a community of about 150 families. The families fall under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program, one of SHFC’s housing modalities under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
TESDA Secretary Benitez highlighted his agency’s role in the initiative. “Mandato po ng TESDA ang magbigay ng skills development, particularly for resettlement sites for the urban poor, na kliyente naman talaga ng SHFC,” he said.
He also recognized SHFC as one of the best-performing housing agencies in the country. Benitez cited his experience as former chair of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
Qualified SHFC beneficiaries can take advantage of technical and vocational education training. The courses are meant to help them build practical skills, raise their income or start their own small businesses.
Available training programs include automotive servicing, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, bartending and plumbing. Beneficiaries can also train in virtual assistant services, data analytics and social media content creation.
The agreement reinforces SHFC’s commitment to going beyond housing. The goal is to equip families with skills and livelihood opportunities for greater financial stability and better futures.
