TAGUIG CITY — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority–National Capital Region (Tesda-NCR) crowned its new roster of technical and vocational champions Friday afternoon, concluding the weeklong WorldSkills Philippines–NCR 2026 regional competition.
The grand awarding ceremony, held at 2:00 p.m. at the Tesda Multipurpose Gymnasium inside the Tesda Complex here, marked the end of a rigorous showcase of talent that ran from May 25 to 29.
A total of 120 competitors from 27 participating institutions vied for top honors across more than a dozen specialized categories. They were supported by 98 industry experts who guided the evaluations. While the official complete list of individual category winners is currently being finalized by the regional secretariat for public release, tournament organizers confirmed that top-performing institutional delegations — including the Southern Institute for Maritime Studies (SIMS) — dominated the high-tech and industrial fields.
This year’s competition, themed “ONE NCR: Skilled, Dynamic, and Future-Ready,” highlighted the synergy between traditional trades and emerging technical fields.
Contestants tested their skills in fast-growing sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, electric vehicle technology, additive manufacturing, web technologies, game programming, and prototype modeling. They also competed in established disciplines including automobile technology, electrical installations, fashion technology, and beauty care.
The newly named regional champions will advance to represent the National Capital Region at the upcoming WorldSkills Philippines 2026 National Competition, also referred to as the National Skills Olympics. Winners at the national level will earn the opportunity to represent the Philippines on the international WorldSkills stage.
The event underscored Tesda’s broader, aggressive efforts to upskill all industries and sectors, a strategic push aimed at elevating the global competitiveness of Filipino workers. The agency has steadily expanded its industry-driven initiatives, rolling out advanced training partnerships, high-tech certifications, and free localized digital programs to ensure that the workforce keeps pace with fast-evolving global automation and market shifts.
Tesda officials issued a grand pronouncement online ahead of the event, emphasizing that the WorldSkills framework serves as a vital national platform to showcase Filipino skills, ingenuity, and adaptability. Leaders noted that the agency aims to turn out elite professionals in every trade and skill set, creating a world-class benchmark that the country can be deeply proud of wherever its workers go to compete or work.
Tesda-NCR Regional Director Angelina Carreon, CESO III, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the event serves a purpose far beyond winning medals.
“WorldSkills is more than a competition — it is a national platform for excellence, discipline, and transformation,” Carreon said during her closing remarks.
Following the director’s address, Glenn Mark Blasquez, a representative of the Southern Institute for Maritime Studies (SIMS) and an active institutional participant in the Tesda ecosystem, lauded the government’s comprehensive upskilling initiative. His team won gold in Cobot System integration.
“This national platform allows our young tech-voc professionals to demonstrate the peak of their ingenuity and dedication,” Blasquez said. “The rigorous standards observed here guarantee that the modern skill sets we are building are something the country can be genuinely proud of on any global stage.”
Tesda officials noted that strong industry support ensured all competition categories utilized equipment and training standards aligned with international benchmarks, a critical factor in maintaining the global competitiveness of Filipino workers.
According to the agency, the regional competition fulfills a core mandate under Republic Act 7796, also known as the Tesda Act of 1994. The law tasks the authority to champion skills excellence, forge strong industry-government partnerships, and create clear pathways for the next generation of Filipino professionals toward innovation, lifelong learning, and world-class competitiveness.