10 February 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Meynardo LB. Montealegre was the Guest of Honor for the Closing Ceremony of the Regional Training Program on “Achieving an Effective Staff Training and Development Program” and the in-country training program “Crafting Impressive and Workable Training Designs,” held at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO VOCTECH) in Bandar Seri Begawan on February 04.

In his remarks, Ambassador Montealegre commended and congratulated the SEAMEO VOCTECH for initiating the timely and relevant training programs mentioned above: timely, given the recent launching of the ASEAN Community, and relevant, because in this age of rapid technological advancements, people — as human resources — need to be equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills and education in order to meet the demands of their work and workplace.

Ambassador Montealegre added that training programs should take into account the evolving educational landscape requirements in order for an organization to meet those challenges and opportunities. In crafting training and development programs for instance, training providers have to take into account not only the needs and aspirations of an organization, but more so, how it will fit into the overall needs and requirements of the ASEAN Community.

After delivering his remarks, Ambassador Montealegre was presented a token of appreciation by the Director of SEAMEO VOCTECH, Hj Mohd Sharifuddin bin Hj Mohd Salleh.

Ambassador Montealegre was also requested to award the certificates of completion to the 29 participants from ASEAN Member States. The Philippines was represented by Ms. Viernalyn Mateo Nama from the Department of Education (DepEd) Region IV-A and Ms. Rosabelle Milagrosa G. Viernes from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).      

The two-week training programs which officially opened on January 23 were coordinated by Mr. Marcelino C. Gapultos, Jr., Ph.D, Management Specialist and Quality Management Representative from the SEAMEO VOCTECH. The trainings were aimed at contributing to the improvement of Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the ASEAN region. Said trainings were designed to assist the participants in enhancing their skills through the utilization of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model of an effective training program. END