PRIMEX completed a six-month data gathering survey subcontracted under the International Development Center of Japan (IDCJ) for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 31 January 2017. The survey was conducted for the Industrial Human Resource Development Project (IHRDP) in the Philippines. IDCJ and Ernst & Young Sustainability Co., Ltd. served as the project’s main contractors.
The survey aimed to identify the issues surrounding the country’s industrial human resource sector and provide the basis for the design and implementation of a project that will improve the country’s human resource base. The project will be geared towards improving academic and industrial cooperation between the academe and the industrial sector to create decent work in rural areas.
Ms. Michiko Tsurumine, Deputy Team Leader of the JICA Consultant Team (3rd from left) with Mr. Masahiro Sajika, Assistant Manager; Mr. Joven Sepulveda, Administration Manager; and Mr. Koji Tsukamot, Administration Manager, Cebu Microelectronics, Inc. 
Ms. Michiko Tsurumine, Deputy Team Leader, with Mr. Pedro Seroy, Managing Director of PRS Technology
The survey-study also recommended project frameworks that will provide models for future JICA-funded loans in the Philippines in the next 10 years.
To present the key survey findings and proposed JICA projects in the Philippines, the survey team organized a successful Final Consultation Meeting on 31 January 2017 at City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City. Team Leader, Mr. Hiroyuki Kanzaki, led the meeting together with Ms. Yoshino Satomi, JICA Country Officer for the Philippines.
Stakeholders reached a common understanding on the key findings and gave inputs to enhance the proposed projects in IHRD in the Philippines. Facilitators consolidated comments from trade associations, government agencies, and experts from multilateral agencies during the meeting. These will be considered during the finalization of the report.
The private sector was represented by Philippine trade associations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Die and Mold Association, Semiconductors Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc., Laguna Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and Metalworking Industries Association of the Philippines.
PRIMEX provided the JICA Team with local support in terms of data gathering and provided input on local policies and governance. PRIMEX also conducted key informant interviews with industries and members of the academic and training sectors and organized focus group discussions with CHED and various stakeholders from the academe.
cover photo: Mr. Rani Abdhuramhan, General Manager, explaining to Mr. Hiroyuki Kanzaki, Team Leader, how they design their products.