Making it happen with Japan: The Board of Investments (BOI) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines hosted the Culminating Forum for the JICA IHRD Project at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on January 24, 2024.

MAKATI CITY — The BOI, in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Science of Technology – Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC), implemented the following five (5) pilot activities: (1) Virtual/Hybrid Internship Program with Japanese companies for Filipino students; (2) Area-Based Demand-Driven (ABDD) TVET; (3) Strategic Business Matching; (4) Kaizen Diffusion; and (5) Implementing Technical Guidance for Die and Mold Technology at Pilot Companies.

The first photo shows (L-R): Ms. Morinaella Torgo of the BOI’s Infrastructure and Services Industries Service, Ms. Linda Rivera of the DOST-MIRDC, Dr. Robert Kerwin Billones of the Intelligent Systems Innovation, Mr. Fernado Silva of Mobilecycle Technologies Inc., Ms. Joan Salapare of JICA Philippines, IHRD Project leader Mr. Ryo Saito, BOI Executive Director Evariste Cagatan, Ms. Yoko Katakura of JICA Philippines, Ms. Nimfa Mariano of Digital In-Building Systems, Inc., Ms. Graciela Marie Juatco of the BOI, and Mr. Gilbert Cunanan of Smartfox Data Solutions Inc.

The second photo shows Mr. Fukui Keisuke, Senior Representative of JICA Philippines, who delivered the opening remarks of the meeting. Started in 2019 and will conclude this February 2024, the project aims to elevate the skills of our human capital further and address supply chain linkages by implementing improved operational models for Industrial Human Resource Development (IHRD) and Supply and Value Chain Development (SVCD).

During the forum, lead implementing agencies presented the results of the pilot activities and gathered comments from stakeholders in the industry, academe, and other government agencies towards institutionalizing the pilot activities. ♦

Date of release: 02 February 2024