BAGUIO CITY – The Regional Training Center-Baguio (RTC-Baguio) and MOOG Controls Corporation cemented their long-time partnership anew with the registration of Aerospace and Industrial Manufacturing Technology course to be offered in June 2019.
“The course is an enhancement of the Core Manufacturing Competencies Development Course (CMCDC) and is tailored to the particular standards of MOOG and the aerospace industry,” said Engr. Hector L. Laguardia, OIC Administrator of RTC-Baguio.
MOOG is an American global company located in Loakan, with over 1000 employees, producing high precision spare parts like servo actuators, valves and gears for commercial aircrafts.
The CMCDC, a course aimed to refine technical and industry skills for technician level positions in industries, was developed and implemented with MOOG since 2001 under the Dual Training System (DTS).
“Under the DTS, training takes place in the center and in the industry using the MOOG facilities, which will benefit trainees through actual training using the company’s world-class machines, as well as better chances of employment after training,” said Laguardia, adding that trainees will receive training allowance of at least 75% of the minimum wage.
Last April, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR) issued a Certificate of Training Program Registration (CTPR) for the program.
The course has a training duration of 1,340 hours or more than eight months, and includes the CMCDC on Assembly and Test, Deburring, Quality Control, Special Process, and Plant Engineering and Maintenance as the core of the curriculum.
Accordingly, the center is finalizing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to effect the implementation of the program come June.
Sustaining industry partnership and collaboration
According to Noriel K. Ramos, lead trainer in CNC Machining, the partnership with MOOG dates back to the creation of RTC-Baguio in March 1998.
“MOOG contributed to the development of the center into a Center of Excellence in Machining and Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining,” said Ramos, noting that the company donated machines and spare parts, provided repair work, developed and enhanced the curriculum for more effective delivery.
He said that Machining NC II or conventional machining is a course where metal products like nuts and bolts are produced using machines, particularly the lathe and milling machines.
On the other hand, CNC Machining is advanced machining where metal products are manufactured by using the computer to control the machine or create another. The center is one of only three institutions offering the course in the country.
As industry partner, MOOG also required applicants in their company to undergo training at RTC-Baguio, and provided the venue for On-the-Job Training and employment of the center’s graduates.
“With their help, the quality of training was greatly enhanced, which allowed the center to be recognized,” said Ramos, noting that the center’s graduates supply the demand for machine operators not just in the region but also the neighboring regions.
The partnership was recognized as one of the Best DTS Partnership Model Award in 2004 by TESDA and the German Technical Cooperation. ** Bernice B. Lee
