Isuzu Motors Limited Chairman Yoshinori Ida (far right) flew in to congratulate the Batch 2 graduates of Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center.

MANILA, Philippines -- The Isuzu-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Auto Mechanic Training Center has graduated its second batch of scholars, made up of 29 scholars picked from qualified but underprivileged youth in the country. The training center is a project of Isuzu Motors Limited of Japan (IML), TESDA and Plan Philippines.

The 13 male and 16 female students from this batch will have the opportunity to work at Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), Isuzu Auto Parts Manufacturing Corp. (IAMC), various Isuzu dealerships, and other local service shops and companies. Isuzu is not the only place where the graduates of the training center can find employment in. IPC encourages its affiliates, suppliers and even companies it doesn’t do business with, to also hire the young auto technicians.

One of the goals of the training center is to uplift the quality of automotive education in the Philippines for the benefit of the local car industry in general and not just Isuzu. In fact, graduates belonging to the second batch will also land jobs at several bus companies, including Don Mariano, Jell Bus Transport and G-Liner.

Students earn the highest certification (known as NC4) in the field of automotive service after a two-year course. They also get an NC2 certification in driving by the time they graduate. Besides the technical skills, the students are trained in the other aspects of the car business, like teamwork, customer relations and planning.

“It has only been two-and-a-half years since the inauguration of the Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center, and we are having already the second commencement exercises,” said Isuzu Motors Limited Chairman Yoshinori Ida during the graduation ceremony held last May 10.

The Leyte-based training center graduated its first batch of scholars in November last year, with 25 scholars subsequently landing jobs at IPC, IAMC, and Isuzu dealers. They are currently contractual employees about to enter the probationary phase.

With the graduation of Batch 2, the auto mechanic training center also welcomes the sixth batch of scholars, composed of 18 students. There are now 67 scholars. Batch 3, which is scheduled to graduate in November, has 15 scholars; Batch 4 has 16 scholars; and Batch 5 has 18 scholars.