The Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) is a community-based TESDA initiative that delivers technical-vocational training directly to workers in the informal sector and marginalized groups, including farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and residents of depressed and geographically isolated communities. Designed to reach those who are least served by conventional training delivery, STEP brings skills development opportunities closer to the ground — meeting beneficiaries where they are and addressing their specific livelihood and employment needs.
Training under STEP is closely tied to practical, real-world application, with programs incorporating both employment and livelihood components to ensure that graduates can immediately put their newly acquired skills to productive use. Courses are tailored to the economic activities and opportunities available within the local community, enabling participants to pursue wage employment, self-employment, or small enterprise development upon completion. Through STEP, TESDA reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth — ensuring that even the most vulnerable sectors of Philippine society are equipped with the competencies needed to improve their quality of life and contribute meaningfully to the national economy.