REGION 3 was the big winner in the Philippine National Skills Competition of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, garnering nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals.

Hundreds joined the competition that ran from December 13 to 16.

The participants competed in over 30 different skills areas at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City, and in Regions II, III, IV-A, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Other skills competitions were held in Mitsubishi Motors Philippines and Nissan Philippines in Laguna for Automobile Technologies, and Richwell Colleges Inc. in Bulacan for Hotel Reception, among others.

TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña expressed hope that the competitors will be able to understand the importance of their skills and the value of continuous learning.

“I know that this competition has given everyone the inspiration to level up with TESDA. I encourage you all to promote skills development among your peers,” Lapeña said.

Gold medal winners received a prize of P30,000 while silver and bronze medalists received P20,000 and P15,000 respectively.

Gold medal winners will undergo further training to prepare them to represent the country in the 2022 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China.

“For the gold medalists, in the coming months, we shall begin with the series of trainings and preparations for WorldSkills Shanghai in 2022,” the TESDA chief said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director General Lina Sarmiento, Chairperson for the National Organizing Committee for Local Skills Competition, lauded the participants saying that the competition should be a learning experience.