The search for Central Visayas' next international skills champion has begun as the region's best young workers compete in the WorldSkills Philippines Central Visayas Regional Skills Olympics 2026. The three-day competition opened on Tuesday, June 2, at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) 7 Compound in Lahug, Cebu City, bringing together provincial champions from Cebu and Bohol.
Path to National and Global Competitions
Gold medalists from this event will advance to the National Skills Olympics in Clark, Pampanga, scheduled from July 27 to 31. There, they will compete for slots in future international skills competitions, including the WorldSkills Competition.
Tesda 7 Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr. emphasized that participants represent the region's "best of the best" after winning their respective provincial competitions. "These competitors are not competing against each other. They are competing against world standards," Vicente stated. Contestants must meet internationally recognized scoring benchmarks to earn gold medals and qualify for the national competition.
Competition Categories
The event features 17 skill categories, including electrical installation, electronics, fashion technology, ICT network infrastructure, industrial control, IT systems administration, mechatronics, restaurant services, software development, web technologies, and welding. These categories reflect the diverse technical fields critical to the region's workforce development.
Building on Past Success
Vicente noted that Tesda 7 aims to produce more world-class competitors following the success of Central Visayas representative Bea G. Hermosura, who won a silver medal in Bakery during WorldSkills Asia 2025. Hermosura will represent the Philippines in the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai this September. Vicente highlighted that the event goes beyond medals and rankings, emphasizing values such as discipline, teamwork, excellence, and camaraderie. "This is beyond competition. We want to impart moral values, camaraderie and excellence in skills among our competitors," he said. He also noted that the participation of a 16-year-old contestant could strengthen the region's chances in international competitions, where age limits often apply.
Support from Local Leaders
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. encouraged participants to continue honing their skills and urged more young people to consider technical-vocational education as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship. "For those who choose not to pursue college, Tesda offers an alternative path. This could be your future," Archival said. He emphasized that technical skills remain valuable despite the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, as many competencies still require human expertise and cannot easily be replaced by automation. Archival added that skills development is crucial to Cebu City's vision of becoming a smart and inclusive city by 2035, with a highly skilled workforce serving as a foundation for sustainable growth.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro described technical-vocational education as one of the strongest tools for creating opportunities and improving lives. "As governor, I firmly believe that education and skills development are among the strongest tools we have to fight poverty, create opportunities, and strengthen our economy," Baricuatro said. She described the participants as the region's finest young talents in technical and vocational education. "You are already representing the very best of technical and vocational excellence in our region," she added. The governor said the competitors are helping shape the future workforce of Cebu and the country through their commitment to learning, discipline, and innovation. She also recognized the role of trainers, educators, industry partners, and parents in preparing the next generation of skilled workers for meaningful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Baricuatro encouraged participants to learn from one another, take pride in their achievements, and continue proving that Cebuano talent can compete globally.
Event Details and Impact
The Regional Skills Olympics will run until June 4 and serves as a platform for young skilled workers to demonstrate their competencies while promoting technical-vocational education and workforce readiness in Central Visayas. The event highlights the region's commitment to developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting international standards and contributing to economic growth.
