The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to further strengthen its skills training programs to ensure that its scholars and graduates remain among the top performers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

TESDA Deputy Director General for Operations Vidal Villanueva III emphasized this during the opening of the WorldSkills Philippines Central Luzon 2026 Regional Skills Olympics at the TESDA Regional Training Center in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

According to Villanueva, the competition serves as a platform to identify highly skilled TESDA scholars who can compete at international standards and help sustain the country’s strong standing in ASEAN skills competitions.

The Philippines recently recorded a historic performance during the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, where the Philippine delegation earned 30 awards, including 10 gold medals, seven silver medals, eight bronze medals, and five Medallions for Excellence.

For this year’s regional competition, around 179 trainees, graduates, and skilled workers from technology and partner institutions across Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales are competing in various categories.

The participants are showcasing competencies in construction, manufacturing and engineering technology, information and communications technology, transportation and logistics, creative arts and fashion, as well as social and personal services.

Winners of the regional competition will advance to the national WorldSkills Philippines competition set to take place in Clark Freeport Zone in August 2026. Those who will emerge victorious at the national level will represent the Philippines in the 2027 ASEAN Skills Competition and the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 in China.