21 August 2014
Unemployed youth can put their energy into good use by training to become masons.
The latest partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and CEMEX Philippines Foundation Inc. will select 30 individuals to undergo a specialized training on Masonry National Certificate II at the TESDA Provincial Training Center-Minglanilla in Cebu province.
The selected beneficiaries will train for 33 days or 258 training hours.
"We know the grueling nature of masonry. Turning stones, bricks and concrete into walls, homes, buildings and giant structures require hard labor," TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said.
"This makes it essential for TESDA to put premium on developing and honing the skills of future masons in the country. Theirs is a specialized craft that could offer a promising career," he said.
Villanueva said the linkage with CEMEX came at a perfect time because of the boom in the construction and home improvement fields.
"After completing the training, undergoing assessment and getting the National Certificate, jobs here and abroad await the graduates," he said.
TESDA and CEMEX Foundation recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize the training program for the beneficiaries.
CEMEX Foundation said partnering with TESDA will further strengthen its corporate and social responsibility program. Its mother company, CEMEX Philippines, is one of the country's biggest providers of building solutions and construction materials.
Under the agreement, TESDA will provide qualified trainers in Masonry. The trainees will be selected by CEMEX Foundation. The foundation will make available the needed training tools, supplies and materials during the training and for the assessment. It will also endorse graduates for possible employment.
Interested individuals who want to avail the training should be 18 years-old and above, physically fit for masonry training and should sport the required haircut in the case of male applicants.
TESDA will ensure that trainees adhere to the program regulations and maintain discipline for the safe conduct of the training. It will also provide a regular report to CEMEX Foundation to monitor the progress of the trainees.
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