The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has named Isuzu Motors Limited as its 2009 Kabalikat Awardee in the industry category, both for Region VIII and on the national level. The citations were given on the occasion of TESDA’s 15th anniversary.

The Kabalikat Awards are conferred annually by the agency to the organizations that have been most helpful to its cause. Winners are determined in three categories – institution, local government and industry – in every region. From these, an overall or national awardee per category is chosen.

For 2009, Isuzu bagged both the regional and national awards in the industry category for establishing the Isuzu Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban City. The training center is a social-responsibility project of Isuzu, conceived to benefit the underprivileged young members of society. Its goal is to give automotive technical training to out-of-school youth who belong to the 37 percent of the country’s population living under the poverty line.

Graduates of the training center will be well-equipped to find jobs in the car industry, both here and abroad. This is very timely as there is presently a high demand for competent car mechanics around the industry, and the Philippines has long been a trusted source of such skilled technicians.

Accepting the award on behalf of Isuzu Motors Limited was Mitsuyoshi Suzuki, former school director of the Isuzu Technical High School in Japan. Suzuki currently serves as a consultant of the auto mechanic training center.

Present during the awarding ceremonies were Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Romeo Lagman; TESDA Deputy Director-General for Sectoral TVET Milagros Dawa-Hernandez;
and TESDA Deputy Director-General for Communities and Local Government Unit Services Pastor Guiao.

“These awards prove that Isuzu truly cares for the youth of this country,” said Isuzu Motors Limited Chairman Yoshinori Ida. “We are proud to be playing an important role in the lives of these talented young people. Our greatest reward is knowing that they will one day become useful members of our very own industry. That is the real award that we are looking forward to.”