Jan Vincent Lanuza, News, Communication Management Office
Representatives of the semiconductor manufacturing company Texas Instruments (TI), the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the United States embassy to the Philippines, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) convened to discuss a potential partnership that centered on manpower acquisition and development at TI’s Clark Facility at Mabalacat, Pampanga on August 22.
Country Director for Government Relations Ralph Reuben Morales, began the proceeding by introducing TI as a company, highlighting it as one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers in which their analog and embedded products cater to industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment, enterprise systems, and other markets.
In addition, Morales commented that TI remains the top and consistent exporter in the Philippines and continues to be recognized by companies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Pag-Ibig, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The company also commits itself towards having good corporate practices particularly in sustainability, responsible business practices, and workplace environment, and in outreach and volunteer programs.
Stating that the semiconductors are the “building blocks of electronics,” Morales and TI see its potential growth in the Philippines and an opportunity towards manpower development, hence their openness to undertake partnership with different institutions, particularly the University.
“These are very opportune times. That’s why TI is very much proactive in participating in various discussions, not only towards customers and suppliers, but also with potential external partners,” he said.
Human Resources Director Rommel Garcia then discussed Human Resource and hiring processes done by the company. This includes recruitment strategies conducted to employ key engineers such as industrial engineers and mechatronic engineers and automation engineers, business personnel, and technicians including equipment technicians, product technicians, process technicians, and the partnership that they have committed to, particularly their association with local Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) to encourage job seekers to apply to them.
Garcia, in his speech, emphasized the strong sectoral partnership of TI with local universities, private institutions, and the government and is looking towards forging another one with the University.
In addition, Garcia talked about their implemented career engine student immersion that are geared towards engineering students and mentioned that TI tirelessly provides opportunities to the interns and technicians to help them develop several factors of their skills.
In a brief statement, USAID and US Embassy, through their representatives, both expressed their commitment in implementing initiatives that would support the sector, may it be the private, public, and the education sector to help them prosper and cope with the fast-paced industry. They also said that working with the US government and its private sector is a great opportunity to expand offerings in Philippine higher education institutions and innovate training programs for complementation.
Head Executive Assistant to the University President, Prof. Ann Clarisse De Leon then discussed the Polytechnic University of the Philippines as the largest state university in the country. She stressed that the University pledged itself to always improve its education and curriculum via numerous accreditations with the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) and ensured that they are aligned with the industry demands.
“We connect with the industry, we connect with the government agencies in terms of improving our curriculum, calibrating our curriculum and making sure that what we offer, the competencies that we train our students to have been aligned with what is needed with the present industry.”
De Leon also highlighted the high employability rate of its graduates, especially at the accounting, business, banking, construction, education, and engineering sector, the excellent performance in licensure exams, the “Tatak PUP” courses or unique courses that are only accessible in PUP such as Railway Engineering, Advertisement and Public Relations, Teaching in the Challenged Areas, Earthquake Engineering, Banking and Finance, Public Fiscal Management, and other non-traditional study programs, and university innovations such as the very first Open University in the Philippines and the Education on Wheels program.
University President Manuel M. Muhi expressed his gratitude for this wonderful opportunity to create a new collaboration that would benefit both the PUPians and the industry and commented “they opened the door for opportunities and the only thing that we can do is to grab it.”
To close out the event, the three parties held an open forum, inquiries, and details regarding their potential formal association. Then, TI gave both the PUP, USAID, and US Embassy team a site tour to their facility particularly in the manufacturing and administrative sections to show the environment inside the company, the application of good workplace practices, and the semiconductor production process being done.
Aside from the aforementioned officials and executives, Facilities, ESH & Protected Services Director Vlademir Buccat and Finance Director Nick Murphy were present for TI. Meanwhile, the PUP delegation include Assistant Vice President for Campuses Roseller M. Malabana, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Exchange and Study Program Section Chief Felicitas C. Trinidad, Alumni Relations and Career Development Office (ARCDO) Director Florinda H. Oquindo, University Legal Counsel Atty. Joanna Marie A. Liao, Institute of Technology Dean Ramir M. Cruz and the College of Engineering Chairpersons Rolito R. Mahaguay of the Department of Computer Engineering, Edison E. Mojica of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Geoffrey T. Salvador of the Department of Electronics Engineering, Arvin Jay DR. Austria of the Department of Industrial Engineering, Robert Michael B. Corpus of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Pedrito M. Tenerife of the Department of Engineering Sciences.
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