DAVAO Region continues to see high demand for jobs in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and healthcare sectors, according to Francis Ray Q. Buñawan, a specialist from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda)-Davao Region.
During the Healthy Davao Media Forum on August 24, 2026, held at SM City Davao Annex Building on Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City, the specialist reported that these two sectors primarily drive hiring trends.
"Majority of the demand, especially nationwide, rising ang ating ICT sector and health sector," Buñawan said.
Regarding technological shifts, he noted that employers currently do not require applicants to have an AI background, though the technology is becoming integrated into select fields.
"So right now ang mga employers natin, actually, hindi naman nire-require sa mga applicants na kailangan naa sila'y background. Pero we are looking forward na in the succeeding years, ang mga applicants expected may background sa AI," Buñawan explained.
(So right now, our employers don't actually require applicants to have a background. But we are looking forward to the succeeding years when applicants are expected to have a background in AI.)
In agriculture, for instance, Buñawan pointed out that AI is already being incorporated into drone operations.
"So sa agriculture nato, incorporated na mga drones… actually sa Davao City, we have the Agridom, na naka-conduct og training sa drone operation na with AI na siya," Buñawan shared.
(So in our agriculture sector, drones are already incorporated… actually in Davao City, we have Agridom, which conducts training on drone operations that already feature AI.)
The adoption of agricultural drones aligns with ongoing precision farming initiatives across the region. Earlier, the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-Davao) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) rolled out pilot field testing for AI-powered drones in Davao banana plantations to monitor crop health, map farms, and detect diseases like Fusarium wilt even before visible symptoms appear.
To connect local skill holders and graduates directly with hiring employers, Tesda-Davao is hosting its "World Café of Opportunities" job fair on Tuesday, August 25, at the same venue, SM City Davao Annex.
"This program is part of Tesda's effort to not only provide training, but to link and network our graduates and skill holders with private employers in the industry," Buñawan said.
The one-day event features 20 local employers and five overseas recruitment agencies offering more than 3,000 job vacancies. The initiative forms part of Tesda’s nationwide 32nd anniversary celebration and National Tech-Voc Day. GRS
