05/08/2026
DTI-12 forges partnership with TESDA to upgrade automotive servicing competence through Shared Service Facility
KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO – The Department of Trade and Industry Region 12 is set to establish a Shared Service Facility (SSF) for automotive services training and assessment in Pigcawayan to enhance workforce competence in the automotive servicing sector across the region.
In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region 12, the P4.2‑million project will be established at the TESDA Provincial Training Center–Pigcawayan. The facility will showcase state‑of‑the‑art automotive servicing equipment designed to train and upgrade the skills of both budding and experienced service workers.
A ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was held on July 27, underscoring the commitment of both agencies to strengthen technical competence through improved training facilities and services.
DTI-12 Regional Director Flora Politud‑Gabunales, CESO III, and TESDA-12 Acting Regional Director Remegias Timonio, CEO VI, spearheaded the signing ceremony.
Politud‑Gabunales emphasised that the establishment of the SSF highlights the joint commitment of DTI and TESDA to upgrading technical skills that will make local enterprises, particularly those engaged in automotive servicing, more competitive.
“Through this shared service facility, we provide economic opportunities by making the automotive workforce more employable and service establishments more market‑driven and in demand,” Politud‑Gabunales said.
Under the agreement, DTI-12 will provide the automotive servicing equipment under a shared service scheme, while TESDA-12 will provide the building and oversee the management and operationalisation of the facility. The facility is expected to be operationalised by October of this year.
The SSF is one of DTI’s flagship programs aimed at improving productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the provision of technology, equipment, and shared production facilities.
In 2024, the sales and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles contributed approximately P71.4 billion to the Philippines’ gross domestic product, underscoring the importance of initiatives that strengthen the automotive servicing sector. -END