APACC visits SICAT, Philippines

The Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) conducted an on-site visit to the Southern Isabela College of Arts and Trades (SICAT) located in Calaocan, Santiago City, Philippines on July 08 to 09, 2009. The team of accreditors was composed of Prof. TJ Tesoro-Gayondato, Team Leader and APACC Joint Coordinator and Dr. M. Saman Dassanayake, APACC Team Member and Chairman of the Research and Development Division of the Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education (CPSC).

During the on-site visit, the APACC Team validated the Self Study Report submitted by the institution to assess if they meet the standards to qualify as an APACC accredited TVET institution through interviews with the Officer-in-Charge, Instructors and Administrative Staff and ocular inspection of facilities.

SICAT is formerly known as Santiago Vocational and Industrial School offering both secondary and post-secondary programs. It was created on June 18, 1964 through Republic Act No. 3922 and began operating in 1967 under the Department of Education. It was converted into a College on June 19, 1995 through Republic Act No. 8075 under the supervision of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

It envisions to be a self-sustaining Center of Excellence in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Region 2. One of the missions of the institution is to develop competitive workforce imbued with relevant knowledge, skills, proper work values and attitudes to meet local and global manpower requirement for customers' optimum satisfaction.

SICAT is currently headed by Vocational School Superintendent - OIC, Ms. Perla V. Lucas. There are 39 Certificate Courses being offered by SICAT with duration of 116 to 1,096 hours.