THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) launched its second special economic zone (SEZ) institute in the country in Cebu Technological University-Main Campus.

Peza Director General Charito Plaza said the institute will cater to Filipinos who want to gain more knowledge and skills that will help them land jobs that are in-demand, especially in fast-growing industries.

“It’s not just skills training but also the program of instruction that inculcates work ethics for them to be multi-knowledged, multi-skilled and world-class workers,” she said.

Plaza said through these various training, Filipino graduates will have the basic know-how and skills needed in the available workplace.

“When the graduate comes out of school he is already transformed. We want every Filipino to have the chance to be trained in the SEZ institute, and we should focus on the needs of the industry,” she said.

By training potential workers ahead, it would save locators time and money for training. It would also make the country’s ecozones attractive to foreign investors.

“Instead of spending money for training, trainings at SEZ will compensate the skills required in the industries,” she said.

CTU main campus president Rosein Ancheta Jr. and Plaza signed the memorandum of agreement for the launching of the new SEZ Institute on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

This program is in line with Peza’s 10-point program and special project to make the country a premier investment destination in Asia.

Ancheta said the institute is the first in the Visayas. He said this would greatly help CTU being Peza’s partner university.

“CTU is the number one state university in Region 7 and the number one state technological university in the Philippines. With our 25 campuses and 45,000 students, we are the second biggest state university in the country,” he said.

He said CTU is a partner to all government agencies and will be a vital part of Peza through the SEZ which will facilitate in building a responsive, research-based and industry- standard instruction, export-based production and market-based extension capacities to benefit stakeholders.