ARAYAT -- Skills training will soon be a breeze as Governor Dennis Pineda and Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino gave the green light for the creation of a training center in the town that will hone the skills of local would-be workers.

Both officials gave their support for the Philippines Arayat Training School (Pats). The facility will provide vocational training.

"Its construction will start on the first week of November with a land area of approximately five hectares at Barangay Tabuan," the mayor said.

He added that the training school will initially accept some 300 trainees and later expand to be able to accommodate some 1,000 people.

A report from the Provincial Information Office (PIO) revealed that the would-be graduates will be guaranteed to work in Japan's 50 biggest companies once they qualify.

The PIO said that due to Japan's shortage of workers affected by its low birth-rate and aging, the country is expected to increase its foreign workers encouraging the Filipinos to set foot in most of its companies.

At present, there are 270,000 Filipinos out of 2.6 million foreign workers residing in Japan, leading the Philippines to rank as fourth in the most number of foreign workers following China, South Korea, and Vietnam, the PIO said.

It added that Japanese teachers will facilitate a one-year intensive course for students through a boarding school system. Students will learn Japan's language, culture, and business manner while skills training will be taught by Filipino teachers.

Pats will also prepare scholarships and co-operate with secondary schools in Arayat, providing them with two years of Japanese preparatory courses while the Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. will perform the curriculum and class management, the PIO added in a report.