UNILAB Education and PE2 explore collaboration to address EE skills gaps
MANDALUYONG CITY, 30 September 2025 - UNILAB Education (UniEd) and the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) met earlier today to explore possible areas of collaboration on bridging the skills training gaps in the energy efficiency sector in the Philippines.
PE2 President Alexander Ablaza and PE2 Vice President for Technical Affairs Raymond A. Marquez explained to UniEd officials that energy efficiency service providers, especially energy service companies (ESCOs), are faced with manpower shortages for non-degree technicians, especially those involved in energy audits, and in the operatorship, repair and maintenance of large thermal systems such as chiller plants and boiler systems.
Both PE2 officers emphasized that no formal training and certification programs exist for technicians related to energy efficiency skills such as the use of energy measurement instruments and the repair of large air-conditioning equipment such as chillers.
PE2 likewise raised the need to reduce the cost barrier preventing the training and certification of measurement and verification (M&V) professionals.
Ablaza said that across the globe, energy efficiency continues to be the most labor-intensive activity is in the energy sector, creating the highest number of jobs for every million USD in energy-related investments.
Both parties, PE2 and UniEd, agreed to look into the possibility of formalizing the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Aside from the PE2 officers, Antonette Marquez of EconoServ Solutions International, and PE2 Secretariat Manager Hazel D. Planco joined the PE2 delegation. UniEd, which hosted the luncheon meeting, was represented by
UniEd President Jose Maria A. Ochave, and UniEd Chief Operating Officer Dr. Noel Cortez, and UniEd colleagues Engr. Limuel Z. Razo, Ramon Ma. Miguel Barredo, Alejandro Jose A. Tuazon, Maria Teresa R. Santos and Camille I. Consunji.
UNILAB Education (UniEd) is Unilab’s response to a long-standing national challenge: graduates struggling to find jobs that match their training, even in sectors like healthcare and STEM where demand is high.
UniEd President Jose Maria A. Ochave explained that UniEd would like to tap industry certifications, microcredentialing, apprenticeship and on-the-job training, senior high school immersion and skills-based continuing professional development courses. He also shared that UniEd will focus on faculty (anchored in industry), program (international benchmark) and technology.
