TESDA-Soccsksargen all set for 2019 Regional Skills Competition

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- At least 30 top technical-vocational (tech-voc) learners and graduates in Region 12 (Soccksargen) are set to display 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 to be held on April 28-30.

Abrogar 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.

He 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.

The events will be held in four venues -- the Unified Engineering Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Polomolok town, South Cotabato; the Productivity and Technology Center; St. Alexius College; and STI College in Koronadal City.

Abrogar 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 a 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 during a media briefing here.

In 2017, he said the region placed third overall in the zonal or Visayas - Mindanao Skills Competition and managed to send a representative in the ASEAN World Skills Competition last year in Thailand.

Abrogar said Regional Skills Competition is mandated 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 the profile of our certified skilled professionals and address misconceptions that tech-voc is secondary to a college education," he added. (PNA)