TAGBILARAN has once again proven its commitment to education and youth empowerment after winning the Regional VII Local Government Unit (LGU) Category in the 2025 Kabalikat Awards of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The city will now represent the region in the national competition.
The award was conferred during the 31st Anniversary Celebration of TESDA Region VII on September 5, 2025 at Montebello Hotel, Cebu City.
City Councilor Jose Floro Ringca accepted the recognition on behalf of Mayor Jane Yap.
The recognition underscores Tagbilaran’s sustained support for out-of-school youth, particularly through scholarships and enrollment assistance in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses.
These initiatives are implemented under the Youth Development Alliance of Tagbilaran City, which was institutionalized as a City Ordinance in 2022 to strengthen access to skills training and employment opportunities.
The TESDA Kabalikat Awards are presented annually to outstanding partners that have significantly contributed to the advancement of TVET in the Philippines.
Honorees include LGUs, national agencies, private sector partners, NGOs, and international organizations that actively promote technical education and workforce development.
Mayor Yap, in a statement, described the award as a recognition of the city’s collective effort to prioritize the future of its youth.
“This honor belongs to the people of Tagbilaran, especially our young learners. By investing in skills training and education, we are ensuring that our youth are equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. We remain committed to creating more opportunities that uplift lives and strengthen our community,” she said.
With this latest recognition, Tagbilaran continues to build on its reputation as a model city for youth development programs.
The city’s advancement to the national stage of the Kabalikat Awards positions it alongside the country’s most forward-looking LGUs in the field of education and skills training.
