2014 ASEAN Skills Competition

Eyeing the 2014 ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC), over 100 technical vocational (tech-voc) graduates and trainees will compete against each other starting today for national honor and ASC slots.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) opens today in three venues the 2014 Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) to showcase the skills learned by tech-voc graduates and trainees.

Winners in the April 7-10 PNSC will earn a slot, aside from honor and prestige, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) event to be held in Vietnam this year.

TESDA Secretary Joel J. Villanueva lauded the national finalists for embracing excellence in their skills.

“The national finalists have shown they have what it takes to excel in rapidly-growing trades and industries,” he said.

Villanueva, TESDA director general, said the skills competition which demonstrates competencies of tech-voc graduates and skilled workers “brings them to a spot in which they are seen as role models to other young people who want to explore careers in high-demand qualifications.”

TESDA-National Capital Region Director Mitzi Tangonan said the participants come from the country’s various tech-voc institutions (TVIs).

She said the PNSC will be held simultaneously at TESDA-NCR (MFI-Foundation, Pasig City); Region III (San Fernando City, Pampanga); and Region IV-A (Batangas City).

The Philippine winners will go to Vietnam for the ASC to compete with tech-voc national champions among members of the ASEAN. Comprising ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

TESDA said the national finalists will participate in either of the following trade areas: Automobile Technology; Beauty Therapy; Cooking; Electrical Installation and Maintenance; Electronics; Fashion Technology; Graphic Design Technology; Hairdressing; IT Network Systems Administration; IT Software Solution for Business; Information Network Cabling; Mechanical Engineering Design-CAD; Mechatronics; Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Servicing; Restaurant Servicing; Web Design; and Welding.

Villanueva said he is hopeful the PNCS participants will have a challenging and fun experience as they compete with each other to test their stamina and skill.