Secretary Lapeña visits Texas Instruments (Phils.), Inc. (TIPI)

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña, included a plant visit to Texas Instruments (Phils.), Inc. (TIPI) during his tour of partners and TESDA Offices in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet on February 15, 2019.

Secretary Lapeña (3rd from left) discusses options for other areas of collaboration with Mr. Erwin Estepa, (2nd from left) and Mr. Ralph Morales, (1st from right). With them are Dir. Gladys Rosales, ARD Manuel Wong and PD David Bungallon.

TIPI implemented a long-running enterprise-based Apprenticeship Program for IC assemblers and industrial instruments technicians. The visit intends to observe the facilities and operations carried out in the site as well as to explore the possible options in strengthening the collaboration between TESDA and TIPI in terms of the implementation of the agency’s programs and projects.

Mr. Erwin Estepa, TIPI’s Managing Director, informed the Secretary that the partnership with the TESDA has been valuable because it drove employment for the graduates of the apprenticeship program. Mr. Ralph Morales, Government Relations Director, added, “The partnership with TESDA helped in producing a steady pool of candidates for TIPI.” From 2011 to 2018 alone, TIPI’s Apprenticeship Program employed an estimate of 2,000 TESDA graduates in both TI sites in Baguio and Clark.

Sec. Lapeña was impressed by the partnership’s activities and outputs. He expressed his appreciation to the company’s officials, stating that “TESDA is not just about the training, but also connects training to employment.” The partnership was very beneficial because it helped people in the lower strata of society gain employment which is an essential tool for alleviating poverty in the country. #

The TESDA group headed by Secretary Isidro Lapeña (4th from left) toured the TIPI facilities after the presentation. He was joined by his Chief of Staff, Dir. Gladys Rosales (3rd from left), and the officials of TESDA – CAR headed by Acting Regional Director Manuel Wong (5th from left).