Tugade: PH-UK railway, maritime in development partnerships

Tugade: PH-UK railway, maritime in development partnerships
February 24, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/02/24/public-square/tugade-ph-uk-railwa...

THE Philippines (PH) and the United Kingdom (UK) are expected to plant the seeds of transport continuity and growth by investing in people through education training and skills development partnerships in the railway and maritime fields, bared Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Feb. 16, 2022.Tugade made the statement during the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for PH-UK education partnerships in transportation in Makati City.

The partnerships will be carried out by DoTr's Philippine Railway Institute (PRI) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the UK'S National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) and Solent University.

The signing of the MoU is a vital component of the PH-UK partnerships, formalizing the cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in terms of education and training of Filipinos in the rail and maritime sectors.

The partnership between PRI and NSAR aims to develop a highly skilled, competent and world-class rail workforce. It is also geared toward efforts to further improve the country's railway sector, which is trailing behind its Asian neighbors for almost three decades.

Programs included in the MoU are railway safety, accreditation framework for the railway sector's training providers in the Philippines, worldwide recognition, rail courses and apprenticeships, among others.

Tugade said education and skills training are important for the continuity of growth in the transportation sector in the Philippines.

"It is sweet indeed that today we gather here in order to plant the seeds for education. Why education? Because we want to have a continuity," Tugade said, adding that the Marina and Solent University partnership will boost the local maritime sector, benefitting Filipino seafarers.