Selected students and teachers from various schools across Palawan are set to benefit from a robotics and automation training program supported by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation, following the issuance of a memorandum by the Department of Education (DepEd) Palawan endorsing the initiative.
The Robotics and Automation Skills Development Program will bring together participants with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), equipping them with hands-on experience in robotics, automation, and emerging technologies. The program is backed by RTN Foundation Inc., with co-funding from Coral Bay Nickel Corporation. RTNMC is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation.
“Thank you, DepEd Palawan for supporting this visionary and meaningful endeavor. All the best to the participants. We will see you here in Barangay Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan,” the company said in a statement.
The training will be conducted at the Leonides S. Virata Memorial School campus in Barangay Rio Tuba, Bataraza, which houses a Makerspace and Technology Hub. Participants will undergo a structured robotics bootcamp featuring lectures, laboratory sessions, robotics assembly and programming, and a culminating robotics challenge.
Organizers said the initiative responds to the growing demand for skills aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where automation, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies continue to reshape industries and workforce requirements. The program is designed to enhance computational thinking, innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration among participants.
Aligned with the K-12 framework under Republic Act No. 10533, the initiative promotes the integration of STEM in basic education while strengthening partnerships between schools and industry. Participants are also expected to establish robotics clubs and conduct re-echo training in their respective schools to extend the program’s impact across Palawan.
Educators may earn Continuing Professional Development units accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission, subject to approval, through a partnership with Erovoutika Robotics and Automation Solutions.
RTNMC said the program aims to position LSVMS as a regional hub for robotics education and digital innovation while advancing technological literacy in Palawan.
