ECOP mourns the passing of Mr. Feliciano L. Torres (June 9, 1939 – May 9, 2020), President of Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing, Inc. and a former Governor and Vice President of the Confederation.
He invested heavily on the quality of work and life, industrial peace and harmony, and human resources by operating his business responsibly, changing the lives of his employees, their families, and the community and, by steering the growth not just of his own company but also the whole automotive industry.
He has been cited, both here and abroad, as a renowned leader in the automotive industry and putting the country in the map as Southeast Asia’s wiring harness capital.
He is a visionary who had great plans for the country, being instrumental in sustaining good economic relations between Japan and the Philippines, thereby attracting more investments for the country and generating more employment opportunities for the Filipino people.
He is also a philanthropist who gave back to society, setting up livelihood projects for the benefit of the community, establishing training programs for the youth and smaller enterprises, and making sure the culture of cooperation and productivity is embedded.
He was behind the ECOP Big Enterprise Small Enterprise Program wherein large companies serve as mentors to smaller companies and provide support in improving productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
He was also a staunch partner of ECOP in the advocacy of promoting industrial peace and harmony, labor laws compliance, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) development.
As an industry captain, he also held various positions in the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Philippine Automotive Federation, and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines. He was also a member, representing the employer sector, of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, the main consultative and advisory mechanism lodged with the Department of Labor and Employment.
In 2019, he was awarded Lakan ng Kalakalan, ECOP’s prestigious recognition given to outstanding entrepreneurs and employers who have served as stewards of business and economic development in the country. The award was handed over by Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo. Also on the same year, the Japanese government conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon for his valuable contribution to Japan’s economy and automotive industry.
