GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/26 April) – At least 30 top technical-vocational (tech-voc) learners and graduates in Region 12 or Soccksargen are set to showcase their skills in the 2019 Regional Skills Competition.
Rafael Abrogar II, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-12 regional director, said Friday they are all set for the annual competition, which is slated on April 28 to 30.
The official said the participants, considered as the “best of the best” skilled tech-voc learners and graduates, are products of accredited tech-voc schools and training centers within the region’s four provinces and five cities.
Abrogar said they will compete in restaurant service, beauty therapy, electronics, information network and cabling, web design and development, information technology software solutions for business, graphic design technology, cooking and welding technology.
He said the events will be held in four venues — the Unified Engineering Workers
Multi-purpose Cooperative in Polomolok town, South Cotabato and the Productivity and Technology Center, St. Alexius College and STI College in Koronadal City.
The official said the winners will represent the region in the Philippine National Skills Competition and in the 2020 Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN World Skills Competition in Singapore.
“This is prelude to what is coming in the bigger stages and we’re looking forward to be represented by top talents from the region,” he said in a briefing.
In 2017, he said the region placed third overall in the zonal or Visayas-Mindanao Skills Competition and was able to send a representative in the ASEAN World Skills Competition last year in Thailand.
Abrogar explained that the holding of the Regional Skills Competition is very important as it will help “bring out the best” and realize the potentials of the skilled tech-voc leaners and graduates.
A mandatory activity under Republic Act 7796 or the TESDA Law, he said it will inspire residents, especially unemployed and out-of-school youths, to learn skills and later turn them into professions.
“It will also help increase the value or raise up the profile of our certified skilled professionals and address misconceptions that tech-voc is secondary to a college education,” he added. (MindaNews)
