JRT Foundation Partners with UP for Scholarship
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — JRT Foundation, the charitable arm of Coolaire Consolidated Inc. (Coolaire), recently concluded a Memorandum of Agreement with the UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation Inc. (UP ERDFI) and the UP Diliman College of Engineering (UP COE) at the Coolaire Head Office in Quezon City in support of educational scholarship for deserving students.
“Education gaps in universities where there are students committed to finishing their education yet are not able to due to financial concerns are where the JRT Foundation comes in,” said Joel Ryan E. Tugade, President of Coolaire and Foundation Vice Chairman.
Said scholarship honors the late Jerry R. Tugade, BS ME 1979 graduate and 2002 Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Alumnus. Eng. Tugade was a recognized pioneer in mechanical engineering, having elevated Coolaire Consolidated Inc. into the truck refrigeration industry leader that it is today.
Advancing Education and Building for the Future
“It’s not just a donation—the JRT Foundation is investing in the future of the study,” said Angelito Bermudo, President of UP ERDFI. Bermudo emphasized that the scholarship’s bridging of the academe and industry boosts the development of local engineers who can contribute further to industry innovation.
UP ERDFI Executive Director Alfonso Aliga cited Coolaire as a prime example of why support for the discipline matters and how this partnership directly supports and uplifts the lives of Filipinos.
Bermudo and Aliga expressed hope that this collaboration is not the last. They proposed going beyond scholarships, such as on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities and research funding for sustainable engineering solutions.
“We have always believed in harnessing talent, and we welcome any kind of future engagements not only with UP but with other academic institutions,” Foundation Co-Vice Chairman Patrick Joseph E. Tugade stated.
Chairman Ruby E. Tugade added, “Our doors remain open to any kind and form of cooperation that can enhance competitiveness, which will always come from the four corners of the classroom. The Foundation will always be here to give and extend financial or technical support.”
SDGs for Development and Business Transformation
Formally established in 2025, the JRT Foundation is driven by Coolaire’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities.
“We are guided by the SDGs, and we ensure that we align the Foundation to activities that leave no one behind. Promoting fair access to education and preserving dreams by linking the labor market to demand is one way to do so. It is giving back by building sustainable livelihoods and eventually better lives,” Joel Ryan concluded.
The JRT Foundation has invested ₱2.5 million into its TIKYO Scholarship Program for over 67 students since 2021.
The UP ERDFI is a non-profit organization established in the 1970s to support the UP College of Engineering. The organization forms strategic partnerships and funnels donations to the college’s faculty, facilities, and students towards an improved engineering industry.
Interview and text by Raf Perez Inguito