Twenty residents of Maasim, Sarangani Province have recently completed their 268-hour free technical education skills training program on Shielded Metal Welding Arc (SMAW) with the help of Alsons Power Group in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The residents are beneficiaries of the “Tulong-Trabaho, Tulong-Negosyo” Program, which, in addition to free SMAW training, sponsored the learners in getting their National Competency, Level – 2 (NC-II) Assessment.
The program implementation was spearheaded by the TESDA SOCSKSARGEN Manpower Development Center, in cooperation with the local governments of Maasim Municipality and Sarangani Province, and the SOCSKSARGEN College of Technology, Inc. which is based in Maasim town. Additionally, the office of Sarangani’s Lone District Representative has extended its support to this initiative.
During the ceremony on October 13, Alsons Power also donated two portable welding machines for the beneficiaries of the program aimed at enhancing practical learning opportunities as well as empowering the newly NC-II bestowed learners to start their own businesses as skilled welders within the community.
In addition to SMAW, the program also currently provides free skills training and NC-II assessment in Electrical Installation & Maintenance (EIM). Alsons Power revealed that the company plans to support the employment or entrepreneurial development of at least 1,800 skilled workers in Maasim in the next 2 years along with its partners in the LGUs, TESDA, and various industry partners operating in the region.
“We wanted to help the local government of Maasim in making the community industry-prepared. We believe that as Maasim transforms into a globally prepared highly industrialized municipality, it is critical to develop a skilled human resource to ensure productive and income-generating local citizens, allowing them to contribute more to nation-building,” said Alsons Power’s VP for Corporate Services, Maria Jiji Lara.
The Alsons Power Group is the umbrella brand of Siguil Hydro Power Corporation and the Sarangani Energy Corporation, all located in Maasim, Sarangani Province.
“We are driven by an understanding that investing in technical and vocational training for residents of our host municipality is an appropriate extension of our corporate social responsibility. We believe a strong partnership involving parties and entities with strong interests, knowledge, and other resources is necessary for the success of this endeavor,” Alsons Power’s VP for Corporate Affairs Ruben Tungpalan, said.
