THE PHILIPPINES through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority organized a technical meeting in preparation for the upcoming 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025.

The 1st Technical Committee Meeting, which was conducted from February 25-28 in Pasay City, brought together delegates from Association of Southeast Asian Nations Member States to lay the groundwork for the highly anticipated skills competition.

The discussions focused on competition guidelines, skill areas, and the overall framework to enhance the event’s quality and impact. The event also marked the acceptance of Timor-Leste as the newest member of the WorldSkills ASEAN family.

TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the future of work as the Philippines is ready to prove that its skilled workforce is not just ASEAN-ready but globally competitive.

“WorldSkills is more than a competition — it is a celebration of young talent, an opportunity to set new benchmarks of excellence, and a source of inspiration for future generations,” Benitiz said.

The Philippines will host WorldSkills ASEAN 2025, marking the return of the prestigious skills competition to the country after nearly three decades. The first WorldSkills ASEAN event in the Philippines was held in 1996 during a period of economic transformation.

The TESDA chief also noted that ASEAN is on track to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030, making skills development crucial to sustaining economic growth.

“Our young and dynamic population is a key driver of innovation and industry growth. To fully capitalize on this demographic advantage, we must invest in education and workforce development. That is why this gathering is so important,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Heads of Delegation from each participating country pledged their support to ensure the success of WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 and to champion TVET excellence across the region.