AUTO INDUSTRY BOOST. Officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and oil company Petron Corporation ink a partnership for the establishment of the TESDA-Petron Car Care Center at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City on Friday (March 4, 2022). The state-of-the art facility targeted for completion not later than June could accommodate 250 students annually. (PNA photo by Cristina Arayata)
MANILA – To empower more students in automotive courses, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and a major oil company on Friday inked a partnership for the establishment of the TESDA-Petron Car Care Center (TPCCC).
The facility will be established inside the TESDA Complex in Taguig City, and is expected to be completed not later than June this year.
In an interview, TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña said boosting automotive courses would result in lower accidents due to mechanical failure.
Lapeña urged those who have been wanting to take the opportunity to enroll in automotive courses at TESDA.
Of TESDA’s 200 courses, 37 are related to automotives.
"(This partnership) is very timely as the country have eased restrictions. We can now accommodate students at 100-percent capacity. Around 25 students can be accommodated per class," Lapeña said.
The state-of-the art facility could accommodate 250 students annually.
Petron Corporation vice president for sales, Virgilio Centeno, said they also eye employment opportunities for TESDA graduates.
"We are very excited to employ TESDA graduates," Centeno said, adding that they may establish more TPCCC branches in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Lapeña told the Philippine News Agency that he finds it fulfilling to see the results of TESDA programs.
"There are people you see around who would say they got a job because of TESDA. You could immediately see the results, like among the graduates who got employed," he said.
Under the partnership, Petron will share technical knowledge and programs with TESDA to update the agency's training regulations for Automotive Servicing.
TESDA, on the other hand, will conduct skills training for higher level qualifications and diploma programs for Automotive Servicing to identified clients and Petron's auto mechanic technicians. (PNA)
