BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) is set to formally receive a ₱1.89-M Rotary Global Grant for a new technical-vocational initiative designed to strengthen workforce readiness and expand professional certification opportunities for students and community learners.
The project, titled “POWER UP: Project for Optimized Workforce-Readiness Through Equipment and Resource Upgrade for Professional Certification,” will be formally turned over on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, at the ISUFST TechnoHub. The program will feature the signing of the deed of donation and presentation of the project, led by Rotary partners from the Philippines and South Korea.
The grant reflects the continuing collaboration among ISUFST, the Rotary Club of Iloilo (District 3850), and the Rotary Club of Namweon Central (District 3670, South Korea). Through the initiative, the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) will receive modern training tools and equipment to upgrade its laboratories and better prepare students for TESDA national certification in Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing (EPAS) and Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II.
After the turnover ceremony, the visiting Korean and Filipino Rotarians will tour the CIT laboratories to see how the newly installed equipment will be used in student training and certification preparation. The visit will conclude with a thanksgiving fellowship lunch at the TechnoHub before the South Korean delegation departs for Korea later that afternoon.
The Korean delegation—composed of RC-Namweon Central President Changhun Lee, IPP Yunkil Nam, PP Ilseob Im, secretaries Changhun Kim and Hyunchirl Kim, and RC-Zamboanga North AG Mark Hongjae Jeong—is expected to arrive in Iloilo on March 10. They will be welcomed by members of the Rotary Club of Iloilo and invited partners during a fellowship dinner at Hotel Del Rio, Iloilo City.
According to the project proposal, the POWER UP initiative aims to help transform ISUFST into a more future-ready training and assessment hub for technical-vocational education in northern Iloilo. The project will modernize the university’s laboratories with TESDA-aligned equipment such as electrical installation trainers, electronic servicing toolkits, digital multimeters, clamp meters, soldering stations, function and signal generators, variable power supplies, and PCB drilling systems.
The global grant also includes higher-value training and diagnostic equipment such as a hydraulic pipe bender, automatic voltage regulator, three-phase electric motors, current transformers, solar power training systems with panels, charge controllers, lithium batteries and pure sine wave inverters, as well as industrial control components like magnetic contactors, panel boards, and testing panels. Additional training tools—including CCTV and fire alarm systems, solar energy kits, Android display units for simulation-based instruction, and various electronic appliances used in servicing modules—will further strengthen hands-on industry-level training for students in EIM and EPAS.
This expanded list highlights how the Rotary Global Grant POWER UP project is not just providing basic tools but full laboratory capability, including power systems, renewable energy systems, industrial controls, and electronics diagnostics, which is exactly what makes the grant high-impact for workforce readiness.
These upgrades are expected to enhance hands-on instruction for more than 450 students and community learners each year, many of whom come from farming, fishing, and other low-income households in nearby municipalities.
By strengthening practical training and certification pathways, the initiative seeks to narrow the gap between classroom learning and the real skills demanded by industry, opening opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship in the electrical and electronics sectors.
ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. said the project reinforces the university’s commitment to producing graduates who are ready to meet real-world demands.
“Projects like POWER UP help ensure that our students are trained using tools that reflect actual industry standards. It is not only about equipment—it is about giving our learners the confidence and competence to succeed in their chosen careers,” Siason said.
For the Rotary Club of Iloilo, the project reflects its long-standing commitment to education and community development. Rotary Club of Iloilo President Dr. Lucio Encio said the initiative highlights how partnerships between educational institutions and service organizations can open real opportunities for young people and communities.
Encio noted that by investing in modern training facilities and certification-ready programs, Rotary hopes to help equip students with practical skills that can lead to meaningful employment and long-term economic growth.
Under the agreement, ISUFST will oversee the training and monitoring components of the project, integrating the new equipment into the regular curriculum of the College of Industrial Technology as well as into community extension programs. The Rotary Club of Iloilo will serve as the primary sponsor responsible for managing the grant funds and coordinating with international Rotary partners.
The project is also aligned with Rotary’s Community Economic Development focus area, which promotes workforce readiness, sustainable livelihoods, and capacity-building in underserved communities.
Dr. Herman Lagon, ISUFST director and Rotary project proponent, said the initiative builds on earlier collaborations between Rotary and the university. “This partnership continues Rotary’s commitment to empowering communities through education and skills training. With modern equipment and certification-ready facilities, students will have stronger opportunities for employment and even entrepreneurship,” Lagon said.
The POWER UP project follows the successful implementation of a previous ₱1.89-million Rotary grant in 2025, which upgraded ISUFST’s automotive laboratory facilities with modern equipment for automotive servicing, also known as the Automotive Industry Modernization in Iloilo (AIM Iloilo) project. That earlier initiative also strengthened hands-on learning and industry alignment in the university’s technical education programs.
With the addition of the POWER UP project, ISUFST aims to further expand its role as a regional hub for technical-vocational education and workforce development through its Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIndTech) program, supporting both student training and community-based skills development in northern Iloilo.| PAMMCO
