The APACC Team, headed by the Joint Coordinators Prof. Dr. Rajesh Khambayat and Prof. TJ Tesoro-Gayondato visited the key officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of the Republic of the Philippines on February 10, 2009 for a discussion on accreditation modalities and schedule of accreditation of TESDA TVET institutions.

As jointly planned by APACC and TESDA, one hundred twenty five (125) TVET institutions in the Philippines are set to be accredited by APACC, inspired by the spearheading achievement of the TESDA Women Center which attained a silver award from APACC in May 2008.   Sixteen (16) TVET institutions are now poised for APACC accreditation this year.

Clockwise: Prof. TJ Tesoro-Gayondato, APACC Joint Coordinator; Ms. Zenaida Geron, Staff, TSDO, TESDA;
Director Irene Isaac, Executive Director, Qualifications and Standards Office, TESDA;
Director Teodoro Sanico, Executive Director, OTTI, TESDA;
Prof. Dr. Rajesh Khambayat, APACC Joint Coordinator; 
Ms. Imelda Taganas, Director, TSDO, TESDA; Ms. Evangeline Platon, Staff, OTTI, TESDA

TESDA commended APACC, since as a result of their preparation for APACC accreditation, the institutions involved have become more driven to improve their respective systems as well as their physical infrastructures. The testimonials from the internal accreditation teams created by the TESDA Women Center to bag the silver award triggered the momentum for the rest of the public and private TVIs under TESDA.  TESDA and APACC share the same goal of uplifting the quality of TVET institutions in the Philippines, which will ultimately result to making these institutions reach the same level of academic quality and excellence.