TACLOBAN CITY -- Japan Automaker Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) formally opened yesterday the P130 million Auto Mechanic Training Center at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) regional office here in the bid to upgrade the skills of young Filipinos in automotive technical training.
IML Chairman Yoshinori Ida said that this will capacitate out of school youth to be competitive in car making just like in Japan. The first batch has 30 scholars coming from economically-depressed areas of the country under the Plan Philippines Program.
The facility houses a two-storey 1,656 square meter workshop, 160-bed capacity dormitory for boys and girls, cafeteria, multi-purpose covered court, complete set of training equipments and tools for workshops. The training equipments to include vehicles costs P39 million.
"This project is for children that are in need of support and development in developing nations. Isuzu already initiated this project in Indonesia and Vietnam," Ida said in a media gathering.
Isuzu will be involved in training in the next two years. Scholars will have automotive national certificate level I to IV.
"It is my dream that this will be the best auto mechanic center in the Philippines. We will be responsible in providing high skills. This will deserve workers to be paid with stable wages in the future," Ida added.
Plan Philippines Country Director Michael Diamond said that they got 1,012 applicants from provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western, Masbate, Cebu and Southern Leyte.
"This project truly opens door to poor but highly deserving students from areas where Plan works. With this, young people from some of the most depressed provinces in the country are given hope for a better and brighter future," Diamond said.
The top three scholars will be hired by Isuzu Motors for their automaking plant in Japan. The rest of the scholars are free to work in other car manufacturers.
"Lives of deserving young Filipino people who are not as privileged as others in terms of resources will be uplifted through this project which is part of our corporate social responsibility," Ida stressed.
One of the beneficiaries, Marlon Garcia, 18, of Brgy. Poypoy, a remote village of Calintaan town in Occidental Mindoro, said that he was grateful for this project considering that his mother has no money to send him to school. His father passed away during his childhood days.
"I can pursue my education now. When I graduated last March, I never expected that I can continue my studies," Garcia told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. recently donated one NHR passenger van and IML of Japan gave one Crosswind XTi prior to the opening of training center.
Isuzu Motors chose the country as the beneficiary of this training center considering that "37% of the country's population lives below the poverty line, with some three million young people unable to receive education."
According to Isuzu, the training will fill the poverty gap with the growing demand for auto technicians as the country registers more than five million motor vehicles each year.
TESDA regional director Juan Sabulao said that in its second year of operation, the training center would also upgrade skills of workers who have been in the automotive industry for many years now. "The center will be opened during evenings and weekends to accommodate to retrain workers."
The training center is an "Isuzu Heart & Smile Project," an integral part of the Japanese carmaker's campaign to mark its 70th inaugural anniversary early this year.
TACLOBAN -- The Tacloban Market Vendors Forum (TMVF), an umbrella organization composed of 18 vendors associations in the city, has came out in favor of the bid of Tacloban to be reclassified as a highly-urbanized city (HUC).
In a Manifesto of Support, the organization also expressed its gratitude to the mayor for his continuing support to market vendors in the city.
The manifesto, which was signed by TMVF officers, was issued towards the end of the TMVF General Assembly held in this city, recently.
Ray Rodriguez, chairman of the TMVF, said that their organization issued the manifesto to show its strong support to the bid.
"Iginpapakita namon, pinaagi hini nga manifesto, it amon hul-os nga suporta hit pagkonbertar hit syudad ngadto ha usa nga HUC, dara nga nakikita namon tanan nga tipakadto ini hit mas progresibo nga Tacloban," Rodriguez stressed.
"Nanawagan liwat kami ha iba nga mga vendors ngan mga molopyo dinhi ha Tacloban nga suportahan ini nga pagigin HUC hit syudad," he added.
The TMVF, which counts more than 1,000 members, is composed of the Tacloban Small Fish Vendors Association, Tacloban Rolling Snack Vendors Cooperative, Cut Flowers Association, Tiange Fruit Vendors Association, SEVEMCO, Tacloban Davao Association, Tacloban Quezon Boulevard Vendors Credit Coop, and Agora Annex Vendors Credit Cooperative.
Also under the TMVF are the Tacloban Main Bldg. Vegetable Section Credit Coop, Tacloban Meat Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Tarcela Vendors Association, Tacloban Chicken Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative, North Wing Bldg. Stall Holders Association, Tacloban Native Delicacies Cooperative, Tacloban Dried and Salted Fish Association, Tacloban Banana Multi-Purpose, and the Tacloban Small Vendors Credit Cooperative.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez is pushing for the conversion of Tacloban into an HUC on the ground that it will bring more investors and further economic development, not only to the city, but the region, as a whole.
He pointed out that under the law, the city has already met all the requirement s which is 200, 000 population and an annual income of P50 million. Tacloban has a population of more than 217,000 with an income of over P600 million.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had issued a proclamation on October 4 declaring Tacloban as an HUC. The proclamation officially takes effect only upon ratification in a plebiscite scheduled to be held on Dec. 18 this year.
If the "yes" vote prevails in the coming plebiscite, Tacloban will become the region's first and the nations 34th HUC.
Nov 18, 2008
Plan Philippines to turn over P130M automotive Training Center
TACLOBAN CITY -- Keeping the promise of assisting children realize their full potentials, Plan Philippines, a global non-government humanitarian organization with offices in 66 countries worldwide opened its way to children and youth for a comprehensive auto mechanic training package with the construction and operation of a multi-million center which will be formally turned over to TESDA today with the technical and financial assistance of Japan's automaker, the Isuzu Motors Limited.
The 5-year project aims to train children and youth who belongs to 37% of the country's population who are under privileged.
"Dako iton amon pagpasalamat heni nga oportunidad kay sigurado kami nga hingangadto it amon anak hin kaupayan ngan makakabulig ini hiton amon pamilya." (We are very grateful to this opportunity as this leads to our children's brighter future and in helping our family), says a parent from Eastern Samar whose 17-year-old daughter availed the first batch of 30 scholars who are now on its 3rd week of hands-on training.
Located at the TESDA's Regional Training Center in Tacloban, the project caters to the marginalized communities covered by Plan in Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Camotes, Cebu, Masbate and Occidental Mindoro.
"It is always a dream for most Filipino parents to let their children finish schooling, get employed and help other family members, but lack of financial resources hinders this dream to happen. There, Plan comes in," says Rodel Bontuyan, Area Manager for the Visayas Program Operations.
The especially designed 2-year curriculum with levels I to IV National Certification is complemented with facilities such as; a two-storey 1,656 sq.m. workshop building, a 160-bed capacity dormitory, a cafeteria, a water system and a state-of-the-art tools and equipment for the automotive course. Plan also constructed 810-square meter basketball covered court with access road development. This is the first of its kind, says TESDA officials and they look forward into adopting this model in other training centers in the country.
Assisting for 47 years now, Plan Philippines carries its child-centred programs in education, health, water and sanitation, livelihood, governance, child protection and disaster risk reduction through participatory approaches with community people by creating an enabling environment and capacitating them to lead and actively participate in their own development. The added value of putting children at the heart of everything makes the difference.
Starting this year, much of Plan Philippines' investment goes to education through school assistance in which children are supported with school supplies, bags, uniforms, transportation subsidy to those who are far from schools and other school fees. The auto-mechanic training project is a big leap of what Plan had been doing in the past.
"Ipinapangako ko po, hindi ko palalampasin ang oportunidad na ito. Ito ang magiging daan para sa katuparan ng aking mga pangarap." (I promise to take hold of this golden opportunity this would lead to the fulfillment of my dreams) stressed Mirasol of Masbate whom will be presented together with the other scholars during the turnover ceremonies.
To be attended by some of the region's government heads, Plan staff and visitors from Isuzu Motors, the day's activity will be graced by no other than TESDA's Director General, Sec. Augusto Boboy Syjuco who also serves as the keynote speaker.
Nov 18, 2008
'Pasalubong' center to help traders into souvenir-making
TACLOBAN CITY -- City Councilor Cristina Gonzales- Romualdez said that the recently-opened "pasalubong" center could help boosts local traders who are into souvenir-making.
The "pasalubong center" is located within the Balyu-an Park Amphitheatre which had its "soft opening" last week graced by Romualdez.
It was learned from Romualdez that the center would not be an exclusive domain of traders from the city but even those coming from other parts of the region could have their space there.
Several of the 12 traders occupying stalls at the said center came from outside Tacloban.
Among the products that could be seen at the "pasalubong" center are items made of native materials like bags, bracelets and several Christmas items.
"This (pasalubong center) will serve as a venue for our local traders where they can display and sell their products," Romualdez, who is a member of the city council's tourism committee, SAID.
"The center will really be our local suppliers," the wife of Mayor Alfred Romualdez added.
Meantime, Councilor Romualdez said that a museum will soon be constructed with the pasalubong center building wherein items which have historical or cultural values will be out into display.
"We are also planning to ask Mrs. Marcos to lend us some of her famous shoes so we can display them in the proposed museum," she said.
The construction of the said museum is expected to take place early next year, Romualdez added.
The construction of the museum as well as the pasalubong center is part of the efforts of the incumbent city officials to help boost Tacloban's economy and attract more tourists.
The opening of the "pasalubong center" coincided with the blessing of the Balyu-an Park Amphitheater which is being projected by the city government as a potential landmark of Tacloban.
The city government is also mulling the plan to preserve the city's historical spots and landmarks not only to attract tourists but also serve as a reminder to the present and future generations that Tacloban has also played an active role in the country's history.
