Regional Skills Competition opens pathway for Youth to Global WorldSkills Stage

Hazel F. Gloria | Philippine Information Agency 

PHILIPPINES. Philippine Information Agency (01 June 2026) - Forty young skilled workers from Central Visayas will compete in 17 technical-vocational fields under international standards at the WorldSkills Philippines Central Visayas Regional Skills Olympics 2026, opening June 2 at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 7 compound in this city.

The three-day competition, running through June 4, covers fields including ICT network infrastructure, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, welding, automotive, restaurant service, electronics, bakery, and cooking.

It serves as a qualifying pathway for participants who may go on to represent the region in national and international WorldSkills competitions.

TESDA 7 Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr. said the event supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a core component of workforce development.

“This event will promote moral values among our competitors, instill the value of technical-vocational education in our youth, and foster camaraderie and stronger relationships with industries and the private sector,” Vicente said.

He said exposing participants to international standards develops not only technical expertise but also professionalism, discipline, and innovation among workers in the technical-vocational sector.

Competitors

Among those competing is Anilie Bajado, a second-year Mechatronics student at Don Bosco Technical College enrolled under TESDA’s Diploma in Electrical Technology program.

“Joining this competition is an opportunity and a challenge kay need pa gyud namo ma-improve among skills para ma-meet namo ang standard, and opportunity sad sya to showcase our excellence and to inspire other youths,” she said. (Joining this competition is an opportunity and a challenge because we still need to improve our skills to meet the standards. It is also an opportunity to showcase our excellence and inspire other young people.)

Bajado said that as a woman in mechatronics, she works to keep pace with male classmates, especially in wiring tasks that require strength, focus, and stamina.

Don Bosco second-year Mechatronics student Darnel James Tapican said commitment drives his preparation, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly relevant to the field.

University of Cebu third-year ICT student John Paul Cinco said the team is working toward improving on its provincial-level gold medal performance.

“We are competing against world-class standards, and we continue to prepare ourselves to meet the required marking scheme,” he said.

Coaches

Don Bosco coach Teofrenz Ycot said students undergo intensive after-class practice sessions, including late-night training, to meet competition standards.

She said trainees receive hands-on demonstrations before performing tasks independently, with training structured to be both time-bound and pressure-tested.

University of Cebu coach Jeff Salimbangon said the main challenge for his team is balancing competition preparation with the current final examination period.

He said he guides competitor John Paul Cinco through modules and specific tasks to build toward required competencies incrementally.

Salimbangon noted that ICT Network Infrastructure is among the most costly skills areas in the competition, as all required tools and equipment must be provided by the school or the student.

While waiting for equipment, he advised Cinco to study international competition footage online to observe task execution standards. (HFG/PIA7)

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