All set for PH hosting of WorldSkills ASEAN

Philippine News Agency

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Kiko Benitez, who chairs the interagency task force for the event, said preparations are in their final stages, covering infrastructure, logistics, competition equipment, and coordination with ASEAN counterparts, according to a news release over the weekend. (File Photo: Kiko Benitez/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippines is all set to host the WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 on Aug. 25 to 30, with the main competition slated at World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Kiko Benitez, who chairs the interagency task force for the event, said preparations are in their final stages, covering infrastructure, logistics, competition equipment, and coordination with ASEAN counterparts, according to a news release over the weekend.

“WorldSkills creates specific competency standards in selected skill domains. This ensures that what we teach [in TESDA] is at par with the rest of the world. The aspiration is to ensure that we are at par with global standards in terms of skills,” Benitez said during his visit to Filipino competitors in their final training sessions at the TESDA complex in Taguig on Aug. 20.

The international competition will gather hundreds of skilled youth from Southeast Asia to compete in 32 skill areas.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on Aug. 25, while the closing ceremony on Aug. 30 will be at the SMX Convention Center, both in Pasay, too.

TESDA has lined up side events, including a skills exhibition at the World Trade Center, cultural immersion programs, and the “One School, One Country” initiative, which will pair ASEAN delegations with local schools for cultural exchange.

Career guidance sessions and industry talks will also be held at PTTC to connect young people with potential career pathways.

The send-off ceremony for the Philippine delegation took place on Aug. 19, the same day Benitez convened the interagency task force to finalize preparations.