Last April 14, 2025, TESDA Regional Training Center – Korea-Philippines Vocational Training Center (RTC-KorPhil), Davao held the 2025 TUKLAS Research Defense as part of its continuing efforts to promote a culture of innovation, sustainability, and research excellence in technical-vocational education. This initiative, highlighted under RTC Memorandum No. 376, series of 2025, was spearheaded by the Innovation, Research, and Green TVET Team in support of TESDA’s broader mandate to integrate research into training, advance intellectual property awareness, and encourage the publication of research outputs.
Held at RTC-KPVTC, Davao APACC Room, the defense served as a culminating academic requirement for graduating Diploma of Technology trainees, particularly those who had submitted research abstracts and fulfilled the documentation requirements, including a PowerPoint presentation, hardbound manuscript, and publishable copies of their research. This initiative further reinforced RTC-KorPhil’s institutional commitment to embed sustainability, critical inquiry, and innovation into the core of technical training, aligned with the Green TVET Framework and TESDA’s vision for transformative and responsive education. The TUKLAS Research Defense, created last 2024, also served as the new basis for the Best in Research Award to be conferred during the 2025 graduation ceremonies. Panel members from the Innovation, Research, and Green TVET Team evaluated each presentation for its relevance, originality, technical soundness, and practical application, particularly its potential contribution to industry and community development.
The 2025 TUKLAS Research Defense showcased the ingenuity and technical competence of RTC-KorPhil, Davao’s graduating trainees, as they presented innovative projects responding to practical problems in engineering, agriculture, and construction. Two research entries received Silver Awards for their exemplary work.
From the Diploma in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Technology (DABET), the research titled “Modification and Performance Evaluation of Vermitea Voxtex Brewer” earned a total of 151.75 points and was awarded a Silver Medal and Certificate. The presenting authors, Elvira D. Durano and Rizly Kringle B. Sadon, were supported by their trainer-researcher, Engr. Jeric F. Bilita, and research adviser, Mary Grace P. Arellano.
Meanwhile, the Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology (DCET) team garnered a total of 150.67 points for their research titled “Development of a Low-cost Time-controlled Drum Concrete Mixer.” Presenting authors John Lhennard H. Dillera and Ruben F. Paduhinog Jr. led the project, which was guided by trainer-researcher Engr. Vincent T. Vasquez and research adviser Marvin I. Santosidad.
The evaluation process, conducted by seasoned members of the Innovation, Research, and Green TVET Team, provided trainees with professional-level feedback, helping them enhance the academic rigor and applicability of their outputs.
Overall, the event not only celebrated the culmination of the trainees’ research journey but also strengthened RTC-KorPhil, Davao’s institutional research culture. By integrating innovation and sustainability into its core training programs, RTC-KPVTC, Davao continues to fulfill its role as a hub for green innovation, intellectual growth, and transformative education within TESDA Region XI.
Photo Courtesy: Innovation, Research and Green TVET Team