10 August 2005 -- Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia H. Benavidez highlighted the vital contributions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO-VOCTECH) to the enhancement of the knowledge and skills of ASEAN citizens.

Ambassador Benavidez also stressed that these education and training programs are undertaken on the principles and strategies of Total Quality Management and the application of the FRESH (Futuristic, Relevant, Enterprise, Sustainable and Holistic) concepts and tools for greater organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Speaking before participants from ASEAN countries in the recently concluded management training course, Ambassador Benavidez stressed the importance of continued interaction and follow-up initiatives that would result in future collaboration and demonstrate that the peoples of ASEAN can compete globally given the proper training, education, support and exposure.

She also congratulated the Filipino Course Coordinator, Dr. Wilfredo Herrera Libunao who successfully conducted this first training program on the FRESH concept, the Center Director Mr. Noorhaizamdin Haji Mosbi, the participants from the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and the VOCTECH Management, Specialists and Support Staff for their collaborative efforts to pursue mutually beneficial goals.

SEAMEO VOCTECH is one of the 16 SEAMEO Centers under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization or SEAMEO established in 1990 with the mandate to strengthen and improve the quality of Vocational and Technical Education and Training through human resource development. It is also the first regional organization based in Brunei Darussalam to receive the ISO 9001:2000 Certification and one of the first SEAMEO Centers to have attained such distinction.

Several Filipino vocational and technical specialists, managers, course coordinators and staff are part of the SEAMEO VOCHTECH team who have been in the forefront of making it the Leading Center of Excellence in Vocational and Technical Education and Training. END