The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) plays a vital role in establishing and standardizing skills across various industries in the Philippines. Through competency standards development, TESDA ensures that workers possess the required skills that meet industry requirements for quality, safety, and performance. These standards serve as the foundation for developing training programs, assessments, and certification processes nationwide. TESDA’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage while promoting sustainable livelihoods is exemplified by its recognition of traditional crafts, particularly heritage weaving and “mambabatok” (traditional tattooing) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). This initiative takes on special significance given the presence of National Artist Maria Oggay, popularly known as Apo Whang-od, the world’s oldest traditional tattoo artist and master practitioner of “batok” (hand-tapping tattoos) from the village of Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga. By integrating these indigenous crafts into the national qualification framework, TESDA not only elevates the status of local artisans but also ensures the preservation and authentic transmission of these culturally significant practices for future generations.

On May 15, 2025, the TESDA Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR) convened a consultative meeting on the Proposed Competency Standards for Heritage Weaving and Tattoo Artistry at the TESDA-CAR Multi-Purpose Hall in Baguio City. This consultation is part of TESDA’s ongoing heritage mapping initiative throughout the Philippines, which aims to identify, document, and preserve indigenous skills at risk of being lost to modernization. In the Cordillera region, heritage weaving and “mambabatok” have been identified as two cultural practices of immense significance that require immediate attention for preservation and sustainable development. The meeting brought together representatives from all six Cordilleran provinces to ensure that the distinct cultural variations and traditional techniques of each indigenous community would be integrated into the competency standards. The event was presided over by Regional Director Balmyrson M. Valdez and attended by 26 industry practitioners and experts, Provincial Directors and Acting Provincial Directors, and other TESDA-CAR employees.

The meeting was conducted to address the urgent need to preserve indigenous knowledge systems as TESDA aims to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of the Cordillera region through formal recognition, create sustainable economic opportunities for indigenous communities, establish quality assurance mechanisms for authentic heritage products, and facilitate knowledge transfer to younger generations through standardized training programs. The meeting employed a participatory approach through presentations, open forum discussions, and collaborative planning to ensure cultural sensitivity and technical accuracy in the standardization process.

Regional Director Balmyrson M. Valdez commenced the meeting with welcome remarks, presenting the objectives of the gathering and underscoring the importance of developing competency standards to preserve Cordilleran cultural heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. His address emphasized TESDA’s commitment to honoring indigenous knowledge systems through formal recognition within the national qualifications framework, highlighting how standardization can both preserve the authenticity and create economic opportunities for indigenous communities. He outlined the framework and rationale for crafting competency standards, specifically for heritage weaving and tattoo artistry. The discussion detailed the proposed systematic approach to standards development, including the formation of technical working groups for each craft, documentation methodologies for traditional techniques and materials, and appropriate assessment frameworks that respect cultural protocols. The presentation also covered practical arrangements for the schedule and venue for the upcoming development workshops in June 2025, including the participant incentives and honoraria.

An engaging open forum was facilitated by RD Valdez, addressing several critical considerations in the standardization process. A unified framework will be developed, accommodating the distinct cultural contributions from all Cordilleran provinces to serve as the foundational basis for the proposed competency standards. This approach acknowledges the rich diversity of techniques, patterns, and cultural significance across different indigenous communities while establishing common core competencies that define professional practice in these traditional crafts.

Additionally, Susana G. Carbonell, OIC-Chief of the TESDA-CAR Regional Operations Division (ROD), and Mabelle J. Panganiban, TESDS II/UTPRAS Focal of ROD, provided comprehensive insights on TESDA’s multifaceted support mechanisms designed to sustain these cultural preservation initiatives. Their presentation illustrated pathways for practitioner advancement through streamlined scholarship registration procedures specifically tailored for indigenous craftspeople, distinctions between Training Regulations and Competency Standards, and the comprehensive process and requirements for program registration.

The meeting concluded with RD Valdez expressing profound gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions and reaffirming TESDA’s commitment to preserving and promoting Cordilleran cultural heritage through skills development and standardization. He also announced the establishment of an Industry Technical Vocational (ITV) Board, composed of industry experts and panel members. This board will serve as a formal platform for policy updates, technical discussions, and continuous support for the development and implementation of competency standards in traditional crafts. This collaborative effort represents a significant step toward institutionalizing support for these traditional crafts while ensuring authentic, viable, and beneficial to indigenous communities. The initial meeting has established a solid foundation for the ongoing work of developing competency standards that honor the cultural integrity of heritage weaving and tattooing while creating sustainable economic opportunities throughout the Cordillera region.

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