The Philippines is set to host the WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 from August 25 to 30, with the main competition taking place at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.
TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, who chairs the interagency task force for the event, announced that preparations are in their final stages, focusing on infrastructure, logistics, competition equipment, and coordination with ASEAN counterparts, as stated in a news release over the weekend.
“WorldSkills creates specific competency standards in selected skill domains. This ensures that what we teach [in TESDA] is at par with the rest of the world. The aspiration is to ensure that we are at par with global standards in terms of skills,” Benitez remarked during his visit to Filipino competitors in their final training sessions at the TESDA complex in Taguig on August 20.
The international competition will bring together hundreds of skilled youth from Southeast Asia to compete in 32 skill areas. The opening ceremony is scheduled for August 25 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, while the closing ceremony will take place on August 30 at the SMX Convention Center, both located in Pasay.
TESDA has organized several side events, including a skills exhibition at the World Trade Center, cultural immersion programs, and the “One School, One Country” initiative, which pairs ASEAN delegations with local schools for cultural exchange. Additionally, career guidance sessions and industry talks will be held at PTTC to connect young people with potential career pathways.
The send-off ceremony for the Philippine delegation occurred on August 19, coinciding with Benitez’s meeting of the interagency task force to finalize preparations for the event.