Rotary grants ISUFST PHP 1.89M for skills training

BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology is set to formally receive a Rotary Global Grant worth PHP 1.89 million for a new technical-vocational initiative aimed at strengthening workforce readiness and expanding professional certification opportunities for students and community learners today, March 11, 2026, at the ISUFST TechnoHub.

The project, titled “POWER UP: Project for Optimized Workforce-Readiness Through Equipment and Resource Upgrade for Professional Certification,” will be turned over during a Wednesday morning program that includes the signing of the deed of donation and a presentation of the initiative by Rotary partners from the Philippines and South Korea.

The grant marks the latest collaboration among ISUFST, the Rotary Club of Iloilo under District 3850, and the Rotary Club of Namweon Central under District 3670 in South Korea.

Through the initiative, ISUFST’s College of Industrial Technology will receive modern training tools and equipment intended to upgrade its laboratories and help prepare students for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority national certification in Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing, or EPAS, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II.

After the turnover ceremony, visiting Korean and Filipino Rotarians are scheduled to tour the College of Industrial Technology laboratories to inspect how the newly installed equipment will be used for student training and certification preparation.

The visit will conclude with a thanksgiving fellowship lunch at the TechnoHub before the South Korean delegation departs for Korea later that afternoon.

The Korean delegation is expected to arrive in Iloilo on March 10 and includes Rotary Club of Namweon Central President Changhun Lee, IPP Yunkil Nam, PP Ilseob Im, secretaries Changhun Kim and Hyunchirl Kim, and RC-Zamboanga North AG Mark Hongjae Jeong.

They will be welcomed by members of the Rotary Club of Iloilo and invited partners during a fellowship dinner at Hotel Del Rio in Iloilo City.

According to the project proposal, the POWER UP initiative seeks to help transform ISUFST into a more future-ready training and assessment hub for technical-vocational education in northern Iloilo.

ISUFST describes itself as the first and only state university of fisheries in the Philippines, with its main campus in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

The project will modernize the university’s laboratories with TESDA-aligned equipment, including electrical installation trainers, electronic servicing toolkits, digital multimeters, clamp meters, soldering stations, function and signal generators, variable power supplies, and printed circuit board drilling systems.

The global grant also covers higher-value training and diagnostic equipment such as a hydraulic pipe bender, automatic voltage regulator, three-phase electric motors, current transformers, and solar power training systems with panels, charge controllers, lithium batteries, and pure sine wave inverters.

Also included are industrial control components such as magnetic contactors, panel boards, and testing panels.

Additional training tools, including CCTV and fire alarm systems, solar energy kits, Android display units for simulation-based instruction, and various electronic appliances used in servicing modules, are also expected to bolster hands-on industry-level training for students enrolled in EIM and EPAS.

TESDA’s training regulations define Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II as a qualification covering the installation and maintenance of electrical wiring, lighting, and related systems in residential buildings up to 600 volts, while Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing NC II covers assembling electronic products, preparing printed circuit board modules, and installing and servicing consumer and industrial electronic systems.

The expanded equipment package underscores that the Rotary Global Grant-funded POWER UP project is designed to deliver not only basic tools, but also full laboratory capability in power systems, renewable energy systems, industrial controls, and electronics diagnostics.

School officials and project proponents said that wider laboratory capability is what gives the grant its potential impact on workforce readiness.

The upgrades are expected to enhance hands-on instruction for more than 450 students and community learners each year.

Many of those learners come from farming, fishing, and other low-income households in nearby municipalities, according to the project background.

By strengthening practical training and certification pathways, the initiative aims to narrow the gap between classroom learning and the skills demanded by industry, while opening opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship in the electrical and electronics sectors.

ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. said the project reinforces the university’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared for real-world demands.

“Projects like POWER UP help ensure that our students are trained using tools that reflect actual industry standards. It is not only about equipment—it is about giving our learners the confidence and competence to succeed in their chosen careers,” Siason said.

For the Rotary Club of Iloilo, the initiative reflects a long-standing commitment to education and community development.

Rotary Club of Iloilo President Dr. Lucio Encio said the project shows how partnerships between educational institutions and service organizations can create tangible opportunities for young people and local communities.

Encio said that by investing in modern training facilities and certification-ready programs, Rotary aims to help equip students with practical skills that can lead to meaningful employment and long-term economic growth.

Under the agreement, ISUFST will oversee the training and monitoring components of the project and integrate the new equipment into the regular curriculum of the College of Industrial Technology, as well as into community extension programs.

The Rotary Club of Iloilo will serve as the primary sponsor responsible for managing the grant funds and coordinating with international Rotary partners.

The project is also aligned with Rotary’s Community Economic Development focus area, which centers on workforce readiness, sustainable livelihoods, and capacity-building in underserved communities. Rotary says its economic development work includes training and access to jobs and opportunities that can help communities prosper.

Dr. Herman Lagon, ISUFST director and Rotary project proponent, said the initiative builds on earlier collaborations between Rotary and the university.

“This partnership continues Rotary’s commitment to empowering communities through education and skills training. With modern equipment and certification-ready facilities, students will have stronger opportunities for employment and even entrepreneurship,” Lagon said.

The POWER UP project follows the implementation of an earlier PHP 1.89 million Rotary grant in 2025 that upgraded ISUFST’s automotive laboratory facilities with modern equipment for automotive servicing under the Automotive Industry Modernization in Iloilo, or AIM Iloilo, project.

That earlier initiative also strengthened hands-on learning and industry alignment in the university’s technical education programs, according to the project narrative.

With the addition of POWER UP, ISUFST is seeking to further expand its role as a regional hub for technical-vocational education and workforce development through its Bachelor of Industrial Technology program, supporting both student training and community-based skills development in northern Iloilo. (PAMMCO)