Pangasinan clinches 2011 Skills Competition

The province of Pangasinan copped the overall championship in the just concluded 14th Regional Skills Competition held in Lingayen, Pangasinan last November 17-18, 2011. The province hauled 9 out of the 12 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze making the province the run-away winner in the skills league.

Ilocos Norte, La Union and Ilocos Sur took one gold each. Because of differences in the silver tally, Ilocos Norte was declared first runner-up, La Union, second runner-up; and Ilocos Sur, third runner-up. The gold medalists will represent the region in the Philippine National Skills Competition early next year.

The 12 areas for competition were performed in four different venues. The Pangasinan provincial government allowed the use of the Provincial Training and Development Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan as the venue for hairdressing, fashion technology, beauty therapy and in computer-based areas such as web design, graphic design and software application. While the contest in welding and auto technology was held in the TESDA Provincial Training Center and electrical installation in Pangasinan School of Arts and Trades (PSAT) in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The Villa Jireh in Labrador, Pangasinan hosted the competition in cookery and restaurant services. The only registrant in refrigeration and aircondition from Pangasinan will go straight to the PNSC.

The awarding ceremony was held at the closing of the RSC last November 18 at the PTDC with vice governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr. as Guest of Honor and Speaker. The vice governor assured the participants a strong support from the provincial government as the RSC recognizes the value of skilled labor and also facilitates employment.

The Pangasinan Association of Private Technical Vocational Institutions headed by Instituto Centro Asia President Andrei Justino F. Abalos, as the major partner from the private sector, generated the much needed resources in the staging of this year's RSC.

The RSC primed up the region in its participation in the PNSC and for a possible showing in the 9th ASEAN Skills Competition to be held in Indonesia in 2012. -PIA — ARA