Giving Renewed Hope

MANILA, Philippines - Some companies mark their anniversary with a huge party complete with all the signs of conspicuous consumption. However, some decide to give back to the community that supported them throughout the decades. One such company is Isuzu which marked its 17th birthday by welcoming the fourth batch automotive trainees comprised of 18 young men and women at its Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center located in the outskirts of Tacloban City, Leyte last May 27. Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) Chairman Yoshinori Ida was personally on hand to welcome the trainees along with Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) President Ryoji Yamazaki and former IPC president and now IML associate division executive for ASEAN, China and Taiwan markets Keiji Takeda.

The auto mechanic training center forms a part of IML’s Hearts and Smiles Project – the company’s corporate social responsibility campaign. Aside from the auto mechanic training center, the project also built schools in both Indonesia and Vietnam. However, the auto mechanic training center is unique to the Philippines. When asked why IML decided to build an auto mechanic training center in the country, Ida replied, “The Philippines has a great talent pool, specifically in the automotive field. Isuzu wants to nurture these individuals to improve not only their lives, but the Philippine automotive industry as well.”

Since it opened in 2008, the Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic training center has welcomed 69 scholars from the country’s poorest areas in Camotes, Cebu; Masbate; Occidental Mindoro; Leyte and Samar. These scholars are chosen by PLAN Philippines, a Spanish-based non-government organization that aims to provide long-term health, education and livelihood to underprivileged children. This year, 25 students will be graduating after completing their two-year course. These students will be certified TESDA National Certification Level IV (NC IV) which means they are capable to repair a vehicle’s electronic systems and install/repair LPG conversion kits along with the more typical tune-up and overhaul of various components and systems. “The NC IV is the highest certification TESDA gives for auto mechanics. It’s based on the needs of the local automotive industry, and not on foreign books and materials,” said Emmanuel Garcia, a lead trainer for TESDA.

After completing the two-year course, the graduating batch’s top-notcher, 18-year old Yniezza Niña Mosot recalls her experiences at the Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic training center. She was initially fazed because automotive maintenance is usually a male-dominated field, but was encouraged by the results for her entrance test and the surprising number of female trainees. Now, she sees her completion of the Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic training program as a means to uplift the lives of her three siblings.

For Yniezza, having the right tools and facilities has certainly given her a great opportunity and the Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic training center is certainly one of the best. Sitting on a sprawling 1,656 square-meter property complete with a 160-bed dormitory, canteen, multipurpose covered court and of course, a two-story workshop filled with state-of-the-art equipment, the center rivals the best automotive service centers in the country. According to Ida, the project has an initial outlay of US$ 2.5-million. Still, Isuzu Motors Limited continuously funds each trainee to the tune of P300,000. Though IML is only committed to fund the training center for three and a half years, Ida will continuously evaluate the progress of the school and vows to keep it running for “as long as Isuzu is in the Philippines”.

Though the Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic training center started out as a corporate responsibility project, Ida has become personally involved and sees to the progress of each scholar by visiting the center every six months. Even his wife, Mikiko Ida makes the trip and the scholars lovingly refer to her as “Mommy Mikiko”. Recognizing his contributions to the project, TESDA bestowed an award to the Isuzu Motors Limited chairman. Acknowledging the award, Ida said, “Isuzu will continue its generous support of the project and work closely with TESDA in ensuring the progress of all scholars because the company believes in the young people being the foundation of a strong Philippine economy in the future.”