MANILA, Philippines — Unknown to many, there are young men and women from very poor families who train to become skilled automotive mechanics at a well-equipped training center in the outskirts of Tacloban City.

That training center is the P130 million TESDA-Isuzu Auto Mechanic Training Center which opened in 2008 as the Heart & Smile project of Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) to upgrade the skills of young Filipinos in automotive technical training.

The training facility houses a two-storey automotive workshop complete with training tools and equipment, 160-bed dormitory for boys and girls, cafeteria, and a multi-purpose covered court.

“It is my dream that this facility will become the best auto mechanic training center in the Philippines. We will be responsible in providing the trainees with high skills so that they will be paid with stable wages in the future,” said IML chairman Yoshinori Ida. IML has similar training centers in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Run by TESDA, the training center offers a free two-year automotive training program covering qualification levels from NC I to NC IV. Trainees get an NC II certification in driving by the time they graduate. They are also trained car servicing business, customer relations, and planning.

Lady mechanic is class topnotcher

The first batch of 30 young Filipino scholars were selected by Plan Philippines, a Spanish NGO working with underprivileged children, from a total of 1, 012 applicants from Occidental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Masbate, Cebu and Southern Leyte.

Last November 2010, the first batch of 25 scholars graduated with no less than Mr. Ida, Isuzu Philippines Corp. president Ryoji Yamazaki, and Isuzu Auto Parts Manufacturing Corp. president Kazuyoshi Iizuka in attendance.

Lady mechanic Jonnalyn Navarrosa of Catarman, Northern Samar, topped the class. She was also named Most Valuable Scholar. Other class topnotchers were Jeffrey Velos of Camotes, Cebu and Yniezza Niña Mosot of Pintuyan, Southern Leyte.

Immediately after graduation, 17 of the 25 scholar graduates were assigned to undertake on-the-job training at Isuzu sales and service offices in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Isabela, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro.
The rest had their OJT in automotive workshops in Tacloban, Samar and Southern Leyte. They are currently contractual employees of IPC, IAMC, and Isuzu dealers nationwide and about to enter the probationary phase of their employment.

The second batch of 29 TESDA-Isuzu scholars consisting of 13 male and 16 female mechanics graduated from the center last month. Graduates belonging to 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. Some of the scholar graduates chose to work with bus companies in Metro Manila like Don
Mariano, Jell Bus Transport, and G-Liner.

There are now 67 active scholars attending training at the center.

For more information on TESDA programs and services, call 887-7777, send SMS message 09174794370 (Globe) 09182738232 (Smart) or follow us in Facebook (TESDA, Sec Joel Villanueva TESDA) and Twitter (SecJOELngTESDA).