APACC Visits RTC - KPVTC, ANTS, and RTC - La Union, Philippines

The Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) conducted on-site visits to three (3) institutions being supervised by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) - the main agency responsible for TVET in the Philippines. They are the (1) Regional Training Center - Korea Philippines Vocational Training Center (RTC - KPVTC), Davao City, (2) Regional Training Center - La Union (RTC La Union), and (3) Alcantara National Trade School (ANTS), Romblon on September 24-25, October 1-2, and October 12-13, 2009 respectively.

APACC Joint Coordinators Dr. Rajesh P. Khambayat and Prof. TJ Tesoro - Gayondato with Prof. Lemuel Miravalles, former Director General of the National Youth Manpower Council (NYMC), now TESDA and former Governing Board Engaged Faculty Consultant of the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) served as accreditors for the RTC - KPVTC on-site visit while Dr. Renato M. Sorolla and Dr. Jariya Tappakul Na Ayuthaya, Faculty Members of CPSC were the accreditors for both RTC La - Union and ANTS.

The on-site visits facilitated the validation of the Self Study Reports submitted by the institutions to assess their compliance to APACC standards. Result of the visits will be determined after the accreditation procedure and will be announced accordingly.

RTC - KPVTC is a public vocational training school established through a Memorandum of Agreement on June 23, 2003 between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. It was operationalized on March 08, 2005. Mr. Egmedio O. Valdez, Jr., OIC - Center Administrator heads the center at present.

RTC - La Union was established through a Presidential Decree and was operationalized in April 30, 1977. It is currently headed by the Regional Training Center Administrator, Engr. Artemio S. Pulido.

ANTS, on the other hand, was established by virtue of Philippine Republic Act 4581 approved on June 19, 1965. The present Vocational School Administrator is Mrs. Sonia M. Castillo.