GSIS, Tesda roll out skills scholarships for members’ families

Insider Spotlight

• GSIS and Tesda are launching a joint skills scholarship for unemployed dependents of members and pensioners
• The pilot covers Legazpi, Cebu, and Davao through selected GSIS branch offices
• Training is fully subsidized and aligned with region-specific job skills
  
  

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, is opening applications for a new scholarship program aimed at equipping unemployed dependents of GSIS members and pensioners with job-ready skills in key regional hubs.

The GSIS–Tesda Scholarship Program will initially offer 75 training slots across three pilot areas. Each of the GSIS Legazpi, GSIS Cebu, and GSIS Davao branch offices will host 25 scholars, widening access to practical training for families in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Why it matters

Many public sector workers support extended families while navigating rising living costs. By targeting unemployed dependents, the program seeks to improve household income prospects while supporting local workforce needs through technical and vocational education.

Wick Veloso 

GSIS president and GM

What they’re saying

“Many GSIS members carry not only their own responsibilities but also the hopes of their families,” Wick Veloso, GSIS president and general manager, said in a press release on Jan. 22, 2026. 

“This scholarship opens doors for their dependents to gain useful skills, earn with dignity, and build a more secure future.”

How it works

Tesda will deliver region-specific courses tailored to local demand. Nominees under GSIS Legazpi will train in cookery, GSIS Davao scholars will take bread and pastry, while GSIS Cebu participants will enroll in automotive services.

The scholarship fully covers training fees for qualified nominees, lowering barriers to entry for families seeking alternative income pathways through skills-based employment.

Who can apply

The program is open to unemployed dependents of active GSIS members with permanent employment status, Salary Grade 15 or below, and updated premium payments for the last six months. 

Pensioners may also nominate beneficiaries. Each member or pensioner is allowed one nominee.

Eligible nominees include the spouse or child of a GSIS member or pensioner, or the sibling of a single GSIS member. 

Nominees must be at least 18 years old at the start of training, unemployed upon nomination and program start, residents of the covered region, and must meet Tesda course requirements.

What’s next

Applications will be accepted from Jan. 20 to Feb. 18, 2026. Forms are available at GSIS Legazpi, Cebu, and Davao branch offices, where applicants must submit a signed form and proof of relationship.

Scholarship slots will be prioritized for members and pensioners with the lowest basic annual salary or monthly pension, with length of service used as a tiebreaker. 

GSIS will notify qualified applicants through their registered email address or mobile phone number. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma