Benguet State University Cordillera Regional Apiculture Center (CRAC) is now an Accredited Competency Assessment Center for Beekeeping National Certification (NC) II by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Awarded on April 20, 2023, the accreditation makes CRAC the first and only accredited competency assessment center for beekeeping NC II in the Philippines.

According to CRAC Director and Assessment Center Manager Dr. Kenneth A. Laruan, they aimed to acquire the accreditation to further serve the center’s extension services. With the assessment by TESDA, the center then passed the certification through facilities, tools, and equipment assessment and conduct of onsite observation by the TESDA personnel, along with compliance with other TESDA requirements. 

The center will now serve as an assessment center for beekeepers who want to obtain a TESDA NC II certification through various competencies required for beekeeping. The assessment includes written and practical exams and interviews to be facilitated by CRAC and TESDA personnel and beekeeping expert. Dr. Laruan added that applicants must have beekeeping training and experience. 

Moreover, Dr. Laruan and CRAC staff Leo E. Kimbungan obtained NC II certificates for beekeeping from TESDA.

CRAC was established in 2013 under the Office for Vice-President for Research and Extension, which aims to educate and train would-be beekeepers, apiculturists, and other stakeholders, conduct research, and extend technologies toward the development of apiculture in the region.//EBawayan