THE CORONAVIRUS disease pandemic did not stop the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority from holding the first Inter-Regional Virtual Skills Competition in December last year.

Regions IV-A, IX, and the National Capital Region participated in the contest held from December 21-23, 2020. The closing ceremony was held on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Competitions were held in IT Software Solutions for Business, NCR-CAMANAVA and TESDA Region IX; Graphic Design Technology, Region IX; and Web Technologies, TESDA Region IVA.

TESDA chief Isidro Lapeña congratulated the winners and awardees, as well as the organizers led by WorldSkills Philippines National Technical Committee Co-Chairperson, Skills Competition Director, and TESDA Deputy Director General for Operations Lina Sarmiento and Vice-Chairperson and TESDA-IVA Regional Director Toni June Tamayo.

He said that such competitions provide TVET graduates the chance to showcase their skills and witness world-class standards in skills demonstration.

“We know that the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of the International Skills Competitions. The quarantine and mobility restrictions we continue to face also led us to cancel our face-to-face competitions. But the challenges brought about by this pandemic did not stop us to continue our mandate. Instead, we have used this time as an opportunity to develop and innovate,” Lapeña said.

For the ITSSB competition in NCR, Gabriel Gaters won the gold medal; while Jhon Philip Guiang and Michael Angelo Galvez were the bronze medalists. In Region IX, Arnold Arnesto, Jr. won the gold medal; John Heri Contrivida won the silver medal; and Jomlowe Andres Gaco got the bronze medal.

In the Graphics Design Technology Competition also held in Region IX, Angelou Tuting won the gold medal; Jizabelle Tubang got the silver medal; and Romel Jhun Salac won the bronze medal.

In the Web Technologies Competition held in Region IVA, Edward Jion Andal won the gold medal, Jericho Rivera bagged the silver medal and Ivan Louise Delgado got the bronze medal.

Section 30 of the Republic Act 7796 (The TESDA Act of 1994) mandates the agency to organize annual skills Olympics to promote quality skills development with the view of participating in International Skills Competitions.