Izuso-Plan-TESDA cooperate to establish a $3M Auto Mechanic Training Center in region 8

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 13, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Here is another good opportunity to learn a skill, find a good job and uplift the Filipino family from poverty.

The Automotive Mechanic Training Center and Scholarship Project in Tacloban City to be undertaken jointly by Isuzu Motors, Plan International and TESDA, was launched on January 31 at Shangrila Hotel.

Isuzu will pour in $3 million to establish the Training Center where every year, for the next five years, 80 scholarships will be given for a two year auto-mechanic course, completion of which will earn the scholar a National Certification IV.

The scholars, male and female, will be chosen from the communities across the country with the assistance of Plan International which operates in the most depressed areas like Samar, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island in Cebu, Masbate and Mindoro Occidental.

The scholars will be chosen from the poorest and most marginalized communities and will be asked to commit themselves to finishing the training course and taking jobs in the automobile industry.

Isuzu Motors will cover living and educational fees, the construction of a dormitory, guidance for curriculum development and training facilities and equipment. Isuzu pledged to extend more support beyond 2012.

Aside from the financial assistance, Isuzu will provide expertise developed through its automobile manufacturing business, including assessment of technical competence of the proposed curriculum, improving the course design and periodic assessment and evaluation of competence and appropriateness of delivery of the course programs.

TESDA Region 8 under the able leadership of Director Juan M. Sabulao, Jr., will be the main resource organization for the technical training and will be supplying the instructors and lectures.

The project will follow TESDA’s National Certification system as the legally mandated and recognized accreditation and certification in the Philippines which is composed of a set of requirements that the student must accomplish before he could be considered a certified mechanic.

TESDA will also provide the non-technical aspects of training like values formation, basic literacy and personality development.

Plan International and TESDA will conduct a customer satisfaction survey one year after the hiring of the project trainees, the result of which will be used in formulating annual operational plans and new policies for the improvement of the training center.