TESDA offers industry-aligned, ASEAN-standard skills training

Christopher Hedreyda | Philippine Information Agency (PIA)

CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES. Philippine Information Agency (PIA) (28 May 2026)  - In line with its mandate to strengthen skills development, expand industry partnerships, and prepare Filipino workers for emerging global demands, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said that it equips learners with new and emerging competencies aligned with standards set by ASEAN member states.

During the opening ceremony of the WorldSkills Philippines CALABARZON held at the Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna in Calamba City, TESDA officials witnessed the convergence of hundreds of TESDA learners, scholars, and students, together with their trainers and faculty members, competing in a wide range of technical and vocational competencies and disciplines.

TESDA said that technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) and accredited higher education institutions (HEIs) in CALABARZON, as an industry-driven region, align their technical-vocational curricula with the needs of companies and industry partners, while adhering to international standards and programs.

TESDA Deputy Director General for TVET Partnerships and Linkages Nelly Nita Dillera highlighted the agency’s Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) initiative as a major strategy in workforce preparation as it continues to collaborate with enterprises and industry players.

“What’s unique about the [Enterprise-Based Education and Training] is that the training happens in the industry or enterprise. The programs that are run are programs that are maybe already developed by enterprises or developed by enterprises because they respond to or address certain gaps of the skilled workforce,” DIllera said.

She noted that there are now more than 379 enterprises or companies that have adopted or are already implementing the EBET, with over 3,000 programs already registered with TESDA centers nationwide.

Aside from providing opportunities for training and certification, TESDA also actively participates in international skills competitions aimed at exposing technical-vocational learners and scholars to global trends. These include the country’s preparations for the upcoming WorldSkills ASEAN Competition and the 2026 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China.

TESDA CALABARZON Regional Director Engineer Jovencio Ferrer Jr. emphasised that learners who undergo provincial and regional skills competitions gain critical exposure to advanced technologies and industry standards, helping prepare them for the high-level competencies required in international competitions.

He noted that such competitions are vital in helping Filipinos with skills certification learn global techniques that can better prepare workers for sustainable careers and future success.

National certificates earned by scholars and learners from TESDA-accredited institutions may also help expand career opportunities across ASEAN member states through the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement. Under the agreement, workers with higher education, relevant experience, and certified skills may work anywhere in Southeast Asia without having to completely restart their licensing process.

TESDA stressed that the training programs, competitions, and skills development initiatives it provides are intended to create direct employment and business opportunities for learners and scholars through active coordination with the national Industry TVET Board and international industry partners. 

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