P60-M shoe tech school to rise in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines — The “shoe capital of the Philippines” will finally have its own school devoted to training aspiring shoemakers in Marikina City, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro announced on Wednesday.

The P60-million shoe tech school is targeted for completion in the third quarter of 2020.

Priority will be given to city residents who can study for free, but at least 10 percent of the school’s population will be composed of nonresidents. They will, however, be required to work in the city’s shoe industry upon graduating.

Construction of the three-story school building will likely begin within the next three months at the Pamantasan Lungsod ng Marikina compound in Barangay Concepcion Dos, Teodoro told reporters.

Marikina already offers shoemaking courses as part of its junior and senior high school programs, but having a school wholly devoted to the industry will be a key to sustaining its revitalization, he said.

The Department of Trade and Industry has pledged to provide shoemaking equipment to the school, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has agreed to issue accreditation certificates and develop a curriculum. —Matthew Reysio-Cruz