LLANERA, Nueva Ecija – “They are now professional masons.”
Thus Mayor Lorna Mae B. Vero said after the 39 construction masons received their certificates of competencies from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) after undergoing a seven-day Holcim Galing Mason training on Monday.
Vero said the local government, in coordination with cement maker Holcim Philippines and other agencies, pressed for the training to make the labor force more competitive, especially these days when a lot of workers are displaced amid the global financial crisis.
The training cum production was undertaken inside the Llanera Central School where trainees started building a school building.
“Most of our masons have acquired their knowledge by experience. Now, they are professionally trained, equipped with certificates and advanced knowledge in the field,” Vero stressed.
Trained masons would enjoy the upper hand in the labor market, even internationally, she said.
Bienvenido Ronas, a mason who finished the training course as “Best Galing Mason” said he bas been on the job for quite a long time now. But he learned a lot more, in the course of the training. Aside from technical abilities, he said he realized the importance of safety and communication skills.
Teri Cruz, CSR coordinator of the Holcim Philippines, Inc., said several masons who underwent the course have been in-demand for overseas placement. “Before, they did not use gloves and shoes, now they have all the safety gadgets,” she stressed.
Holcim donated 200 bags of cement for training cum production purposes, Vero said. Besides the Llanera LGU and Holcim, Nueva Ecija’s 2nd District Rep. Joseph Violago, the Association of Construction and Informal Workers (ACIM), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Jobs Trade, assisted in the realization of the training course.
After the training course for mason, the local government is pushing for the same activities for electrical, plumbing and other workers.
Thus Mayor Lorna Mae B. Vero said after the 39 construction masons received their certificates of competencies from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) after undergoing a seven-day Holcim Galing Mason training on Monday.
Vero said the local government, in coordination with cement maker Holcim Philippines and other agencies, pressed for the training to make the labor force more competitive, especially these days when a lot of workers are displaced amid the global financial crisis.
The training cum production was undertaken inside the Llanera Central School where trainees started building a school building.
“Most of our masons have acquired their knowledge by experience. Now, they are professionally trained, equipped with certificates and advanced knowledge in the field,” Vero stressed.
Trained masons would enjoy the upper hand in the labor market, even internationally, she said.
Bienvenido Ronas, a mason who finished the training course as “Best Galing Mason” said he bas been on the job for quite a long time now. But he learned a lot more, in the course of the training. Aside from technical abilities, he said he realized the importance of safety and communication skills.
Teri Cruz, CSR coordinator of the Holcim Philippines, Inc., said several masons who underwent the course have been in-demand for overseas placement. “Before, they did not use gloves and shoes, now they have all the safety gadgets,” she stressed.
Holcim donated 200 bags of cement for training cum production purposes, Vero said. Besides the Llanera LGU and Holcim, Nueva Ecija’s 2nd District Rep. Joseph Violago, the Association of Construction and Informal Workers (ACIM), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Jobs Trade, assisted in the realization of the training course.
After the training course for mason, the local government is pushing for the same activities for electrical, plumbing and other workers.
