Deal inked to bolster auto sectorschool ties

THE Department of Trade and Industry ( DTI), the Board of Investments ( BOI), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) signed an agreement with the Technological Institute of the Philippines ( TIP) and online job- hunting site Jobstreet Philippines to strengthen links between higher educational institutions and the automotive industry.

In a statement on Friday, the investments board said the deal aimed to further grow the automotive manufacturing sector and the number of workers available to the industry.

“The project is among the collaboration projects between the Philippines and Japan in promoting the domestic automotive industry and deepen its involvement in the regional and global value chains,” BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili- Dichosa said.

“As schools improve [ their] curricula, [the project] will also allow students to consider the job opportunities offered by the automotive industry,” she added.

Lahoz said they were making sure that TIP’s curriculum was attuned to the needs of industries, so that it would open more job opportunities for its graduates.

As part of the agreement, BOI would hold the Philippine Auto Industry- Academia Congress at the TIP’s Quezon City campus on September 28.

“The holding of the autoacademe congress is timely, as the government expects increasing job opportunities with the full implementation of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy ( CARS) and the Public Utility Vehicle ( PUV) Modernization Programs,” it added.

The congress will open students to possible employment opportunities in the industry and allow TIP to establish stronger links with auto firms in improving its curriculum.

“Through Jobstreet’s job and internship search services, students and industry coordinators not only from TIP, but also from other universities, colleges, and technical and vocational education training (TVET) providers, will widen their career options after graduating,” the investments board said.

“Furthermore, automotive firms will have every opportunity of selecting the most qualified and most capable of students,” it added.

The automotive industry is considered a top economic growth and job creation driver. According to one JICA study, the sector is projected to sell 1.2 million units by 2027.