QC gov’t, TESDA forge pact to develop $4.5-M IT Center

The Quezon City government and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement for the construction of a $4.5-million modern information technology training facility.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and TESDA Director General Alcestis Guiang forged the pact that paved the way for the construction of the IT center inside the compound of the Quezon Polytechnic University in San Bartolome.

The center, funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is expected to boost the capacity of Filipino IT workforce through the application of a Korean model of training.

Filipinos are expected to benefit from the transfer of Korean experience and knowledge in IT development.

"This project is a big step toward achieving what we have envisioned for Quezon City," Belmonte said following the signing ceremony.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, TESDA and City Hall officials witnessed the ceremony.

Under the agreement, the city government will provide a site for the Korea-Philippines Information Technology Training Center (KPITTC).

The agreement also provides that TESDA and the city government will co- manage the KPITTC through a governing board, with the city mayor and TESDA director general as co-chairmen.

The center will provide basic and expert IT courses, which include network fundamentals, computer animation and analysis.

The project will support the vision of the national government in making the Philippines the Asia-Pacific center for IT applications. – Perseus Echeminada