Tesda Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez says on April 17, 2026 that local job opportunities for technical-vocational graduates remain less competitive in pay, pushing many certified workers to seek employment abroad. Benitez made the remark during a press briefing at the inauguration of the New Tesda Media Lounge when asked whether the steady outflow of graduates could be read as a sign of limited and underpaid local opportunities in the Philippines.