TESDA-8, in collaboration with Plan International (Plan Japan & Plan Phil.) and Isuzu Motors Ltd (Japan), will establish an Automotive Training Center within its compound in Tacloban City that will have all the necessary equipment and tools needed to implement training programs up to National Certificate Level !I. The project will cover full support of living and educational fee for trainees, construction of dormitory to house the trainees while they complete their courses, advice for curriculum development and supply of training facilities and equipment.

This project is expected to position the Philippines as a major source of world-class automobile technicians. The training center and dormitory will be operational hopefully by July this year.

The project, intended to run for five (5) years, aims to produce highly-skilled employable auto-mechanics. Plan and TESDA will collaborate in developing a technical education program that seeks to produce top-class automotive technicians. A target of 80 poor but deserving young men and women will be given scholarship from those communities assisted by Plan International all over the country. The project also aims to provide these trainees jobs after the course by brokering them to industry and firms who are in need of highly-skilled mechanics.

The project has been launched and the tripartite partnership was sealed through the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing on January 31, 2008 in Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City by the top officials from TESDA, Plan International and Isuzu Motors, witnessed by the local and international media.

Plan International is an international humanitarian, child-centered development organization working in 66 countries worldwide while Isuzu Motors Ltd. of Japan will donate funds to support this project through their corporate social contribution activities.

Isuzu hopes that a new generation of competent and world-class automotive technicians will be produced to cope with the growing demand for technical expertise. Through the project, chosen talented young people in the deprived areas will acquire skills and experience that will enable them to earn stable income as well as contribute to the development of the country’s automobile industry.

For further information, please contact the following TESDA Offices:

Ø TESDA Regional Office - Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City (tel. # (053) 321-4365; 523-2660)
Ø Regional Training Center - Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City (tel. # (053) 321-8249/523-9229)