The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) successfully conducted the 2024 Philippine National Skills Competition (2024PNSC) on August 22-24, 2024.
August 22 to August 25, 2024 – at World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City
Over 1,000 delegates from all 17 regions across the Philippines flocked to the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) in Pasay City for the three-day competition where over 200 competitors showcased their expertise and talents in 25 skill areas. The event attracted 3,000 attendees per day, including competition participants, students, teachers, representatives from education and government bodies, industry partners, and members of the public.
Region XI emerged as Champion Best Region with 37.00 medal points after bagging 10 medals including 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze. National Capital Region was First Runner-Up with 9 medals, including 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze, for a total of 33.00 medal points. Coming in as Second Runner-Up was Region IV-A, also bagging 9 medals including 4 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze, totalling 31 medal points. Completing the top 10 Best Regions were Regions I, II, III, IV-B, V, IX, and Cordillera Administrative Regions (CAR).
Aside from bronze, silver and gold medals, winners received cash prizes in the amount of ₱15,000 ($260), ₱20,000 ($345) and ₱30,000 ($518) respectively. Gold and Silver medal winners in the 2024PNSC earned a chance to represent the country in the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition (WSASEAN2025) which will be hosted by the Philippines in 2025. Certificates of Excellence were presented to participants whose performances met the highest global standards based on the criteria set by WorldSkills International.
The Opening Ceremony, held on August 21, 2024 at the WTCMM Tent, was a spectacular display of regional diversity and unity with a friendly competitive spirit as regional delegates paraded and proudly waved their flags to the tune of tribal drum beats. The Closing Ceremony on August 25, 2024 was likewise a festive extravaganza as TESDA recognized the winners and celebrated the skills excellence of tomorrow’s workforce.
The opening and closing programs featured spectacular cultural performances with a modern flair by an impressive lineup of talented performers including the Move to the Groove Dancers, Alab Poi Dancers, Banda Kawayan, and the University of Makati Chorale, Jammers, and Dance Extreme Ensembles. The event culminated with a pre-recorded Drone Light Show featuring PNSC and WSASEAN elements presented by Silver sponsor, FELTA Multi-Media Inc., in partnership with Drone Tech Philippines.
TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez said the theme, “Empowering the Future, Advancing Skills for Tomorrow”, is reflective of TESDA’s commitment in equipping the next generation of Filipinos for the rapidly changing work environment. He also reminded the competitors that as they strive for excellence, they should remember to learn from one another and uphold the spirit of fairness.
The 2024PNSC as a Prelude to the Philippines’ Hosting of WSASEAN2025
The conduct of the 2024PNSC was modeled after the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition which the Philippines will be hosting in 2025. In the words of previous TESDA Secretary/Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu, PhD., this year’s national skills competition was nothing like TESDA has ever conducted in the past, as it was intended to mirror the scale and prestige of the above-mentioned international competition.
The venue, World Trade Center Metro Manila, boasts of more than 24,000 sqm of gross floor area, consisting of 11,300 sqm of continuous indoor space at ground level and 11,500 sqm outdoor space – making it the perfect venue for WSASEAN2025 as well. It has very user-friendly features, ensuring not only ease in build-up, but also reduction in the cost of staging exhibitions and events requiring large, unobstructed space and sophisticated setting. Strategically situated at the heart of Pasay City in the National Capital Region, WTCMM offers excellent visitor mileage and accessibility to the international airport and seaports, entertainment and cultural facilities, five-star hotel accommodations as well as to Makati, the main central business district in the Philippines.
ASEAN Delegates as Special Guests during 2024PNSC Opening Program
Among the special guests during the opening program of the 2024PNSC were delegates from the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) who attended the First Organizing Committee Meeting (1st OCM) in preparation for WSASEAN2025. PNSC Chairperson, Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Vidal D. Villanueva III, thanked the delegates from TESDA’s counterparts in other AMS who worked together in laying the groundwork for WSASEAN2025 during the said meeting held on August 20-21 at WTCMM.
(Read more about the 1st OCM here.)
Furthermore, the TESDA leadership thanked all the industry partners and sponsors for their trust and support in mounting this momentous event.
Bigger, Bolder PNSC
Indeed, the 2024PNSC was bigger and bolder, with additional skill areas versus the previous years. The 25 skill areas featured this year were the following:
- Automobile Technology (Transportation and Logistics)
- Fashion Technology (Creative Arts and Fashion)
- Graphic Design Technology (Creative Arts and Fashion)
- Bakery (Social and Personal Services)
- Beauty Therapy (Social and Personal Services)
- Cooking (Social and Personal Services)
- Hairdressing (Social and Personal Services)
- Hotel Reception (Social and Personal Services)
- Restaurant Service (Social and Personal Services)
- Cybersecurity (Information and Communication Technology)
- Information Network Cabling (Information and Communication Technology)
- IT Network Systems Administration (Information and Communication Technology)
- IT Software Solutions for Business (Information and Communication Technology)
- Web Technologies (Information and Communication Technology)
- CNC Maintenance (Manufacturing and Engineering Technology)
- Electronics (Manufacturing and Engineering Technology)
- Mechanical Engineering CAD (Manufacturing and Engineering Technology)
- Mechatronics (Manufacturing and Engineering Technology)
- Welding (Manufacturing and Engineering Technology)
- Cabinetmaking (Construction and Building Technology)
- Carpentry (Construction and Building Technology)
- Electrical Installations (Construction and Building Technology)
- Plumbing and Heating (Construction and Building Technology)
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Construction and Building Technology)
- Wall and Floor Tiling (Construction and Building Technology)
Exhibits Provide a Dynamic Learning Experience for Observers
At the 2024 Philippine National Skills Competition, leading industry partners such as Hytec Power Inc., FESTO, Hexatronics, and other key players, showcased cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions aimed at advancing technical education and skills development in the country. With interactive displays, live demos, and hands-on activities, the exhibition area became a dynamic learning hub where participants and guests could explore the latest advancements of the industry.
TVET Students Get First-Hand Learning Experience Through School Tour
Schools and technical vocational institutions were invited to send their students to observe the 2024PNSC and witness the competitors live in action. It was through a guided tour around the competition area where students were educated about the different skill areas.
Regional Competitors Enjoy Learning and Sharing Through One School One Region
The One School One Region (OSOR) program is the local counterpart of WorldSkills Organization’s One School One Country (OSOC). It is an educational exchange program that facilitates learning and sharing among regional competitors by connecting them with selected NCR-based TVET institutions. The OSOR school visit was conducted on August 25, 2024, with a total 206 competitors from 17 regions who were grouped and assigned to visit ten NCR-based TVET schools. The program’s goal was to foster collaboration among regions and TVET institutions, enabling delegates to exchange best practices and possible forging of partnerships.
2024PNSC as Part of TESDA 30th Anniversary Celebration
The 2024PNSC was part of the weeklong celebration of TESDA’s 30th Anniversary on August 19-25, 2024 held at the WTCMM. The events included TESDA Institutional Events and the First Organizing Committee Meeting (1st OCM) ahead of WorldSkills ASEAN Philippines 2025. These pivotal events underscored TESDA’s commitment to advancing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the Philippines.
Ready for WSASEAN2025
The 2024 Philippine National Skills Competition played a pivotal role in preparing for the upcoming WorldSkills ASEAN Philippines 2025. This event was not only a demonstration of technical competence but also of resilience, as it overcame hurdles to ensure the Philippines, through TESDA, is well prepared for the larger international competition in 2025. The success of the 2024PNSC also highlighted the country’s commitment to strengthening vocational education and training, aligning with global standards, and promoting skills development as a driver of economic growth. This competition fosters a culture of excellence in skills training, ensuring that the Philippines will be represented by highly skilled professionals at the ASEAN level.
About Philippine National Skills Competition
The Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) is a competition that serves as a venue to recognize the skills excellence of young industry-skilled workers and graduates of technical-vocational schools and training centers. The PNSC hopes to develop competitive Filipino workers who possess world-class skills and work values and attitudes. The competition culminates in a series of local, provincial, sectoral, and regional contests held nationwide. Winners of the regional contest vie for gold in the PNSC. Winners in the PNSC undergo further training to prepare them for international skills competitions like the ASEAN Skills Competition and the WorldSkills Competition.
About WorldSkills ASEAN
WorldSkills ASEAN is the largest showcase of professional and technical skills in the ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region and brings the objectives of the WorldSkills movement to Southeast Asia. The skills competition was initiated by an agreement among ASEAN Member States in 1993 and aims to promote and raise skills standards in the ASEAN region to an international level, as well as to motivate youths to develop their skills and knowledge. ASEAN Member States take turns to host the biennial WorldSkills ASEAN Competition.