Marikina City, the shoe capital of the Philippines, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) inked a partnership that aims to further boost the city’s shoe industry.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino ‘Marcy’ Teodoro and TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña recently signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the National TVET Trainers Academy (NTTA) in Marikina City.

Under the deal, a shoe tech course and other modules like caregiving and bread and pastry, will now be offered at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina PLMar).

“As we signed this MOA, we are proud to say that we accept the challenge of committing to quality technical education through our partner institution — TESDA, and especially our local college, PLMar,” Teodoro said in a statement.

“We look forward to your involvement in the further development of our footwear industry,” he added.

For his part, Lapeña said the partnership will also help the government’s efforts to create more jobs not only in Marikina but in other parts of the country.

“I am happy, Mayor Marcy, that today is the realization of what we have talked, not just the training regulation of shoe industry ang maa-address natin (that will we address, but other courses also that can be offered particularly those who are in need here in Marikina,” Lapeña said in his speech.

Under the agreement, all personnel of the Marikina city government can undergo technical training or enroll in short courses like automotive, engineering, bartending, hotel and restaurant, and other available courses.

TESDA will also assist the city government for the accreditation of its city engineering unit to make it as an assessment center and training service provider for their offered courses related to engineering and automotive.

“Yung trabaho, ‘yung opportunity, starts with training. ‘Yun po ang aming maiko-commit sa ating Mayor ng Marikina (The work opportunity, starts with training. That we can commit to our mayor of Marikina),” Lapeña said.

Teodoro earlier announced that the city government has allotted PHP60 million for the establishment of shoe tech school inside the PLMar campus. He said the school aims to address the lack of skilled shoemakers.

He expressed gratitude to Lapeña for supporting Marikina’s goal of further developing the shoe industry by solidifying their partnership through the MOA. (PNA)