The CHED Crisis on Graduates to Unemployment Mismatch and the Provincial Solution: Why South Cotabato Matters Now!

 *Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD

I was not supposed to write an article today linking a provincial governor who could one day be president of the Philippines; documenting and posting this piece would not benefit me. I will just manufacture my own enemies from his circle and his personal enemies, but when a post popped up on Facebook relevant to the above title, it alarmed me and made me realize something: no matter how much I try not to connect the governor to this issue, he naturally emerges as both a reference point and a possible solution. I write this not to promote him, but to inform and educate people about the reality of what is happening in terms of local governance in the provinces and its impact on national counter-consciousness. 

When the Commission on Higher Education revealed that out of 25,000 graduates surveyed, only 3,000 landed jobs, I froze (Platform, 2025). Twelve percent. The figure was so harsh that it ridiculed the underlying sacrifices. For a moment, I stared at it in disbelief, realizing that this number was not just a statistic—it was a story of broken dreams.

I thought of the families behind those numbers. A mother had to pawn her last heirloom to enable her child to enroll. A father drove his tricycle through sleepless nights to cover the tuition. Then the graduate himself walked proudly across the stage, holding his diploma in hand, while his parents wept with joy. That diploma was supposed to be the golden key to a better tomorrow. Yet months later, that same graduate sits at home, laptop glowing in the dark, sending résumés that vanish into silence. The echo of unemployment replaces the cheers of graduation.

CHED's survey exposes not just an economic issue, but also a breach of trust. For decades, we have instilled in our children the belief that education serves as a powerful equalizer. But what use is a key when the doors it promises no longer exist? What use is sacrifice when the nation fails to honor it?

The mismatch between education and industry has haunted us for years. Universities produce thousands of graduates in oversaturated fields, while industries lament the lack of digital, technical, and specialized skills (Asian Development Bank [ADB], 2020). Research from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Orbeta, 2020) has shown that youth struggle most with the “school-to-work transition,” spending years in job hunting or settling for underemployment. The World Bank (2020) also noted that nearly half of Filipino firms identify inadequate skills as a major obstacle to growth, proving that the problem is not the lack of workers but the lack of alignment between what is taught and what is needed.

Even if graduates had those skills, the economy itself struggles to create enough decent jobs. Many are pushed into contractual work, informal labor, or migration (International Labour Organization [ILO], 2023). The Philippine Statistics Authority (2023) reported youth unemployment rates consistently higher than the national average, with 1 in 7 young people either jobless or underemployed. Every Filipino boarding a plane for work abroad carries not just luggage but the weight of a dream this country could not carry.

And yet, amid this despair, I find myself asking: must it always be this way? Is there no alternative? My thoughts turn to the provinces, to the leaders who stand closest to the people. How I wish the League of Provinces of the Philippines would step forward, for governors hold the power to shape local economies and tie education directly to livelihood.

In this regard, one governor comes to mind—Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. of South Cotabato.The president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines. His province has emerged as a model of genuine sustainable development. There, education is not treated as a hollow promise but as a living bridge to employment. Programs link schools to industries, agricultural reforms train the youth as entrepreneurs, and livelihood opportunities grow because governance listens (South Cotabato Provincial Government, 2024). Tamayo has proven that when leadership is grounded in sincerity and vision, even a province can thrive while the nation struggles.

Under his stewardship, South Cotabato demonstrates that the challenges faced by our graduates are not insurmountable. It indicates that diplomas can still lead to jobs, that sacrifice can still bear fruit, and that hope can still be rewarded. If the League of Provinces were to adopt this model, and if governors throughout the nation united in their efforts, CHED's dire assessment could transform into a narrative of redemption.

CHED has defined the crisis, but leaders like Tamayo point to the response. The question is whether others will follow. Until they do, graduation day will remain bittersweet—a day of applause, followed by silence too heavy for young hearts to bear. But if they rise, if they embrace the lesson of South Cotabato, then perhaps the next survey will not speak of despair but of hope fulfilled.

 

References

Asian Development Bank. (2020). Philippines: Employment and skills strategies. ADB. https://www.adb.org/publications

International Labour Organization. (2023). Youth employment in the Philippines: Trends and challenges. ILO Asia-Pacific. https://www.ilo.org/manila

Orbeta, A. C. (2020). Education, labor markets, and the youth: Addressing the school-to-work transition in the Philippines. Philippine Institute for Development Studies Policy Notes, 2020-05. https://pids.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023). Employment situation in the Philippines. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph

Platforms, E. P. (2025, August 17). Diploma alone not enough for jobs, CHED chief says; OJT required in all degree programs. Explained PH | Youth-Driven Journalism. https://www.explained.ph/2025/08/diploma-alone-not-enough-for-jobs-ched-chief-says-ojt-required-in-all-degree-programs.html

South Cotabato Provincial Government. (2024). Sustainable development programs and youth empowerment initiatives. Provincial Planning and Development Office.

World Bank. (2020). Philippines skills report: Preparing for the jobs of the future. World Bank Group. https://worldbank.org

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 *About the author:

Dr. Rodolfo “John” Ortiz Teope is a distinguished Filipino academic, public intellectual, and advocate for civic education and public safety, whose work spans local academies and international security circles. With a career rooted in teaching, research, policy, and public engagement, he bridges theory and practice by making meaningful contributions to academic discourse, civic education, and public policy. Dr. Teope is widely respected for his critical scholarship in education, management, economics, doctrine development, and public safety; his grassroots involvement in government and non-government organizations; his influential media presence promoting democratic values and civic consciousness; and his ethical leadership grounded in Filipino nationalism and public service. As a true public intellectual, he exemplifies how research, advocacy, governance, and education can work together in pursuit of the nation’s moral and civic mission.