THE Board of Investments (BoI) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and Jobstreet Philippines to improve linkages between higher education and the automotive industry.
In a statement on Friday, the investments arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the MOA will ensure a strong automotive manufacturing sector as well as sufficient human resources to support the industry.
BoI Executive Director and concurrent BoI-JICA Project Manager Ma. Corazon H. Dichosa said the MoA signed last July 6 also includes the launch of a Philippine Auto Industry-Academia Congress on Sept. 6 at the TIP Campus in Quezon City.
“It focuses on the human resource development, local suppliers development and investment promotion. The upcoming Congress will allow for greater collaboration between the government and the academe,” Ms. Dichosa said. “As schools improve its curricula, it will also allow students to consider the job opportunities offered by the automotive industry.”
Through the Auto-Academe congress, BoI said it expects to increase job opportunities in the car manufacturing industry amid the government’s implementation of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) and the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization (PUV) Programs.
The CARS program seeks to bring in foreign firms to invest and locate their car assembly and car parts manufacturing plants in the Philippines while the PUV Program aims to phase out the old jeepneys in favor of more environmentally-friendly models.
Citing a JICA study, BoI said automotive sales are expected to reach 1.2 million units by 2027.
TIP senior Vice President Angelo Q. Lahoz for his part said they will be focusing on space education, one of the sub-sectors in the industry DTI has been looking to develop.
“We make sure our curriculum is attuned to the needs of the industries. So this opens up more job opportunities for our students once they graduate,” he added.
Under the MoA, Jobstreet Philippines Country Manager Philip A. Gioca said the firm will commit to connect the “best of the best among schools and in providing the best job opportunities”.
Jobstreet will likewise provide the platform for internship opportunities.
Mr. Gioca previously said JobStreet is looking to improve its tie-ups with the government after their study found an increasing number of job applicants expressing interest in joining government service. — A.G.A. Mogato

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