The $8 million Mold Technology Support Center funded by the Korean government officially opened in Gen. Trias, Cavite over the weekend.

The MTSC, which will be managed by the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development is poised to be a training hub for mold technologies.

"The facility will also help strengthen the industrial cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea," MIRDC executive director Robert Dizon said during the MTSC launch.

"Korean partners who supplied all the equipment are here to demonstrate and encourage more local companies to avail of MTSC's services. Not only did they provide the equipment, but our Korean partners made sure to boost the skills and technical know-how of our MTSC engineers and staff," Dizon added.

It houses equipment, tools and various technologies for mold and mold-related requirements of the industry.

The establishment of the MTSC aims to help advance local mold companies, increase their productivity, and help them become globally competitive.

Moreover, there are seven engineers and technicians from the MIRDC and the Philippine Die and Mold Association trained on technical drawing, mold design, programming and operations, and mold assembly in South Korea from September to December 2019, Dizon said.

The MIRDC also said, the center will be instrumental in beefing up the local economy. In Cavite alone, the MTSC will be able to provide its services to over 200 companies.

Companies in the molding industry are those which manufacture household products such as bottles, gadget casings, food containers and toilet seats, among others.

The facility is located on a Philippine Economic Zone Authority-owned land near the Cavite Economic Zone.

Besides providing training on mold making, the MTSC will accept mold-making jobs.