Auto servicing course drives Filipinos to vocational schools

AUTO technicians from across the country compete to represent the Philippines.

A course in automobile servicing seems to add glamor and appeal to technical-vocational schools.

Two officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and a professor of a vocational school noted this during the Philippine National Skills Competition held April 8 at the Toyota Motor Philippines Tech School in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

“No trainees were coming to our school before. After we opened an automotive course, young people have been enrolling,” said Victor P. Brioso, Tesda OIC provincial director in Apayao.

“Even in isolated areas in the country, in Apayao, for instance, the most talked about vocational course is automotive,” said Francisco Jucar, Tesda regional director at the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Automotive servicing is becoming attractive because it gives many options for enrollees: You become self-employed, and you know how to troubleshoot your own car,” said Luisita S. Dela Cruz, Tesda IV-A regional director.

Dela Cruz estimated that there are 1,712 Tesda-registtered auto servicing programs in the country. For Calabarzon, there are only 52 registered programs.

Jucar said that the country has 11 registered technicians per million population. He cited a World Bank data that showed the minimum number to jumpstart an economy is 150 technicians—in the automotive, construction, electronics and machining sectors—per million population. Even then, some of these 11 technicians may be working abroad.

Ticket out of poverty

For many others who have chosen a vocational course in automotive servicing, this may be the ticket to ride out of poverty. At least, that’s what Jonathan A. Guasa hopes.

JONATHAN tries to score points in the automatic transmission overhauling. photos by Tessa R. Salazar

Guasa, 21, the eldest of five siblings, was raised by the nuns of the Sisters of Mary School in Cebu.

He took up automotive technology at Xavier Center for Integrated Technologies in Cagayan de Oro. He was offered a three-year scholarship by the Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation dealership from 2010 to 2013, and he represented the Northern Mindanao Region during the national skills competition.

The winner of the national skills competition will compete in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Skills Competition in Hanoi in October, where the possible test cars could include the Toyota Camry, Vios, Avanza and that of BMW.

The Philippine competition consisted of overhauling the engine, transmission, wheel alignment, engine troubleshooting, body electrical, transaxle and automatic transmission. Vehicles used were the latest Toyota models Vios, Innova, Camry and Altis.

The Tesda-led Philippine National Skills Competition included categories in Automobile Technology, Electrical Installation, Electronics, Graphic Design Technology, IT Network Systems Administration, Mechanical Engineering Design, CAD; Mechatronics, Web Design; and Welding. This year, a total of 128 competitors from different fields joined.

Secretary Joel Villanueva, Tesda director general, told the crowd during the April 7 opening ceremony in Pampanga that the competition paves the way for the career path of trainees and graduates.

The Philippine National Skills Competition helps Pinoy automotive graduates at a level with world standards.

Dela Cruz said: “Eventually, these competitors become service technicians. Car buyers will be assured that whatever happens to cars that they buy, there are service technicians all over the country who are at par with global standards.”