TESDA showcases future-ready skills systems to ASEAN partners
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) hosted delegates of the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Committee for a site visit at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City on Monday, as part of the 16th AQRF Committee Meeting.
Held from February 9 to 11, and guided by the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”, the three-day meeting is part of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026.
The 16th AQRF Committee Meeting gathered representatives from 11 ASEAN participating member states — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, , Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam — to advance cooperation on qualifications transparency, quality assurance, and mutual recognition of skills.
During the site visit, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez emphasized that the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) is fully operational, and is being implemented through law, supported by robust quality assurance mechanisms, and anchored on industry relevance.
The TESDA chief noted that the Philippines’ referencing to the AQRF supports President Marcos administration’s thrust to ensure that education and skills training translate into employment, productivity, and regional mobility.
“The ultimate aim of Operationalizing the PQF through these centers is to support the mobility of learners and workers.
We hope that, because our system is aligned with the AQRF, the skills demonstrated here are more easily understood and recognized by employers across ASEAN,” Sec. Kiko said.
The visit gave the delegates a closer look at how TESDA delivers Technology-driven, gender-responsive, and hands-on technical vocational education and training (TVET) through strong industry partnerships.
Key facilities were visited, including the TESDA Women’s Center, Regional Training Center–NCR, and WorldSkills/ Human Resource Development Center, highlighting skills in bartending, plumbing, visual graphic design, mechatronics, welding using virtual reality, creative innovation, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
“The intention of today’s discussions is not to evaluate national systems. It is to deepen understanding, promote consistency in interpretation, and reinforce mutual trust among ASEAN Member States,” the TESDA chief said.
Earlier, the Philippines formally welcomed ASEAN delegates and led a third-party comparison writeshop, a key technical activity of the AQRF process. The session enabled participating countries to examine criteria, methodologies, and strategies for comparing national and regional qualifications frameworks—strengthening trust, transparency, and recognition across ASEAN systems.
