THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) played host to delegates of the Asean Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) committee for a site visit to the department’s head office in Taguig as part of the 16th AQRF Committee Meeting.
The meeting, held from Feb. 9-11, is part of the Philippines’ 2026 Asean chairmanship, highlighting the Marcos administration’s commitment to regional cooperation, human capital development, and stronger Asean integration.
The AQRF Committee Meeting gathered representatives from 11 Asean participating member states to advance cooperation on qualifications transparency, quality assurance, and mutual recognition of skills.
During the site visit, Tesda Secretary Kiko Benitez said that the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) is fully operational, and implemented through a law, supported by robust quality assurance mechanisms, and anchored on industry relevance.
He also added that the Philippines’ reference to the AQRF supports the administration’s thrust to ensure that education and skills training translate into employment, productivity, and regional mobility.
“The ultimate aim of operationalizing the PQF through these centers is to support the mobility of learners and workers. We hope that, because our system is aligned with the AQRF, the skills demonstrated here are more easily understood and recognized by employers across Asean,” Benitez said.
The visit gave delegates a closer look at how Tesda delivers Technical and Vocational Education and Training through strong partnerships and visits to key facilities, including the agency’s Women’s Center, Regional Training Center–NCR, and WorldSkills/Human Resource Development Center.
“The intention of today’s discussions is not to evaluate national systems. It is to deepen understanding, promote consistency in interpretation, and reinforce mutual trust among Asean member states,” Benitez said.
In the same meeting, Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that strengthening alignment among education institutions, training providers, industry partners, and government agencies is central to preparing Filipino learners for evolving workforce demands.
“Our biggest asset is our people. Under President Marcos Jr.’s leadership, we are envisioning a more creative and innovative Filipino learner, which will be a significant boost to the industry,” Angara said.
The updated PQF now features eight levels aligned with the Asean Qualifications Reference Framework, with clear vertical, horizontal, and diagonal pathways between technical-vocational and higher education.
In the new PQF, senior high school is mapped to Level 3, and micro-credentials have been formally integrated to support lifelong learning and give learners more flexible opportunities to build skills over time.
Angara said that while the roadmap is now clearer, sustained coordination and shared accountability among institutions will be essential to ensure successful implementation.
“We already see alignment under President Marcos’ leadership. The challenge now is execution—staying the course, aligning budgets and incentives, and holding ourselves jointly accountable for learning outcomes,” he added.
