THE TOYOTA Motor Philippines Foundation. (TMPF) has donated basic automotive tools for the in-campus Toyota Technology Center (TTC) at the College of Industrial Tech-nology  (CIT) in Laoag City.  Posters and signage for the TTC were also handed during a program held on March 19 at the AV Room.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Miriam E. Pascua, MMSU president, hailed the continuing efforts by the company under its Toyota Automotive Education Program (TAEP) to improve the quality of automotive technology-enhanced course in MMSU. 

Dr. Pascua emphasized that TTC at MMSU is a manifestation that indeed Toyota is \"within\" the university.  She also wished that Toyota engineers and technicians shall be tapped as affiliate faculty of the university in the future.

Mr. Ronald N. Gaspar, coordinating officer and education head of TMPF, assured that Toyota shall continually upgrade facilities of the TTC and promised to elevate it as a regional skills development center in automotive servicing.  The various sets of automotive tools, valued at PhP45,000, shall be used in instruction in the Bachelor of Automotive Technology at CIT.

Toyota Dagupan City’s (TDC) commitment and support as dealer partner for MMSU’s TTC was also voiced by Beauteous Joy Chua.  MMSU is among 18 nominated partner schools in the country that host a TTC dedicated to the study of Toyota engine technology. Training simulators, consisting of six engines (gas and diesel) and two transmissions, have been donated by the company through the years to build up the facilities for the TTC at CIT. 

Toyota also sponsors five scholars, presently undergoing a six-month on-the-job training (OJT) at TDC. They are now in their third year. They are the second batch of recipients of a market-driven scholarship program of Toyota.  Among the first batch of scholars from CIT is Bobby Pedro N. Agustin who is now undergoing a two-year intensive training at Toyota Center in Japan.  MMSU’s automotive technology instructors have also undergone immersion training program at TDC.

Before the turnover program, TMPF’s Gaspar spoke to automotive technology students on the study of Toyota Way in general and Toyota Production System in particular.  He explained the concepts of quality, productivity, safety, environment protection, and Kaizen or continuous improvement.

TMPF is the corporate social development arm of the Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation.  It is focused on supporting initiatives in developing education, basic healthcare, environmental conservation, and community services. (Celerino F. Ancheta)