On-the-job trainees become instant hired workers

Mining firm, TESDA establish skills dev’t center in remote area

By CEASAR M. PERANTE - Manila Bulletin

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya — A British mining company conducting mineral explorations here and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have established a community-based training and enterprise development center (CBTED) in Barangay Runruno here.


TESDA, Metals Explorations Philippines-Runruno Livelihood Foundation (RLF), the local government of Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, the Kasibu National Agricultural School and the Barangay Council of Runruno signed a memorandum of agreement to co-manage the training center by pooling their resources.

"To provide opportunities to more out-of-school youth to become skilled workers and land in long-term lucrative jobs in any part of the world, we have decided to establish a training center right at their doorstep," said Dr. Ernie Mendoza, senior vice president for corporate services of MTL Philippines and RLF executive director.

Two batches composed of 24 out-of-school-youth underwent welding crash course at the TESDA Regional Training Center in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan with their board and lodgings shouldered by the mining company.

The first batch of scholars who took courses on "Shielded Metal Arch Welding" (SMAW) and "Gas Metal Arch Welding" (GMAW) in Tuguegarao were Roy Balajo, Jesus Hermono, Rodel Mariano and Jonard Reneda.

The four are now midway in their onthe-job training at Polarmarine, a Swedish company engaged in the production of high-quality, precision-tank cleaning equipment based at Subic Bay Freeport.

The second batch of 20 welding trainees included Junie Buyuccan, Albrent Gano, Jerome Guinihid, Jomar Buyawe, Ryan Balante, Jaime Hangdaan, Jonifer Reynoso, Juan Manganawe, Sunny Capsula, Wahit Francia, Jonathan Binay-an, Jonathan Basilio, Kervin Likofon, Marvin Ancheta, Rose Irene Binay-an, Leo Binay-an, Larry Sumakay, Agustin Dulawon, Nolan Mayanggao, and Paul Dinamling.

Except Rose Irene Binay-an, the only female in the group, the 19 trainees who were supposed to do on-the-job-training at Hanjin Heavy Industries, also at the Subic Bay Freeport, became instead instant hired workers.

Binay-an reportedly failed to meet height standards the Korean ship building company has set.

"As we intend to provide more chances not only to out-of-school youth of Runruno but for other residents of Quezon town, we realize that sending them to Tuguegarao would limit the number of trainees in terms of budget, so establishing the training center at home (Runruno) could result in more beneficiaries," said Melanie Valenciano, community development chief of MTL Philippines-Runruno Livelihood Foundation.

Aside from shielded metal arch welding, the training center will also offer short-term courses on automotive, machine shop, garments, food processing, heavy equipment operation, crop, and animal production.

"Five compact farms will be developed at different sitios in Runruno for this purpose," TESDA Provincial Director Manuel Hiadan said.

"We welcome this development for our town and people, especially our outof-school-youth, as we see growth and progress in terms of job opportunities, skills, and local enterprise development," said newly installed Quezon (Nueva Vizcaya) Mayor Aurelio Salun-at.