The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) launched the competency standards in support of medical education: the Cadaver Preservation Services Level III and Academic Simulation Services III.
”They say before there’s a doctor in the operating room, there’s a technician in the anatomy lab. During every simulation, there’s someone setting up the tools, fixing the systems, keeping things running when no one’s watching,” TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez said during the ceremonial launch on Oct. 20, 2025, held at the University’s Sports and Wellness Center. The launch coincided with UP Manila’s foundation celebration kick-off activities.
”After the students graduate, those same people stay, building the next generation’s classroom of care. Today, TESDA and UP Manila stand together to say, ‘hindi na Sila invisible. Their work, their skills, their service – kita na, Kilala na at kinikilala na natin Ngayon,” he added.
The launch marks the first time competency standards on Anatomy Laboratory Technician and General Laboratory Technician education were formally developed by the government.
The Cadaver Preservation Services Level III program will train learners to handle, preserve, and manage cadavers for academic and research use, including anatomical embalming and ethical disposal. Graduates may serve as Cadaver Care Technicians, Anatomy Laboratory Technicians or Anatomic Embalmers.
Meanwhile, the Academic Simulation Services Level III program focuses on the management and operation of simulation-based learning facilities in health sciences education. Graduates may serve as Simulation Technicians or Simulation Operations Specialists.
“As the number of medical schools increases because of the Doctor Para sa Bayan Act, there is also a need to ensure that we have the technicians, simulation specialists, and laboratory personnel who help make quality education possible,” the TESDA official emphasized.
TESDA’s TVET Skills Insights Report (TSIR) 2025 titled, ‘Behind the Scenes of Care: Labor Insights into the Auxiliary Health Workforce’ highlighted the need for at least three to four laboratory technicians in every new medical school established under the Doctor Para sa Bayan Act.
Based on these findings, TESDA and UP Manila identified six priority areas for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) development: Anatomy Laboratory Technician, General Laboratory Technician, Cadaver Preservation, Cadaver Soft Embalming (clinical training), Academic Simulation Assistant, and Simulation Technician.
The new competency standards aim to strengthen the backbone of medical education and the healthcare workforce by aligning technical education with higher learning. It is part of the agreement stipulated in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by TESDA and UP Manila in September 2024 that laid the groundwork for standards development, skills training, and enterprise-based learning.
Following the signing of the MOU, TESDA held consultation meetings with key officials from UP Manila and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) including educators, laboratory staff, and simulation experts beginning December 2024. The consultations revealed related challenges such as the shortage of plantilla positions, low wages, and the absence of standardized qualifications for laboratory and simulation personnel.
Chancellor Michael Tee thanked TESDA for heeding UP Manila’s request to standardize the training for laboratory technicians. He said that “as the prime mover for simulation-based and technology-driven health sciences education, UP Manila will ensure that support staff in health sciences courses are properly trained and are recognized in the academic community.”
Anatomy Department Professor Rafael Bundoc and simulation-based Professor Maria Julieta Germar led the development of the training modules for the said courses.
Press Release
