Force for construction, Villanueva says of ties with ACEL

16 December 2014

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva trained the spotlight anew at partnerships with the private sector, such as the construction sector, for workforce development, calling it a "force for construction."
 
As the demand for skilled workers in some industry sectors increases, Villanueva said that technical-vocational institutions should be able to keep up with its pace and offer a pool of quality and competitive graduates.
 
Thus, he said, cooperation between the agency and the private sector such as the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors (ACEL) Inc. is vital.
 
"The cooperation between TESDA and ACEL is a force for construction," he said in a message during the recent induction of ACEL officers.
 
Forging partnership ensures that the advancement of the construction industry is put to the fore, especially as the construction of buildings, condominiums and other infrastructure continues to pick up.
 
"There's no sign that the activities are slowing down. Together, we acted on this opportunity promptly by arming workers with the skills needed by the construction industry," he said.
 
TESDA and ACEL recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the provision of a scholarship fund for the training of existing workers in the industry and for the pre-employment training and re-tooling of incoming workers in the construction-related sector.
 
Villanueva thanked ACEL for committing to employ at least 70 percent of the graduates under this deal and to maintain a Training Development Fund for future training.
 
"I hope that our cooperation will address the pervasive migration of Filipino operators and laborers to other countries seeking greener pastures," Villanueva said.
 
The TESDA chief also acknowledged ACEL for being generous in helping the agency keep pace with modern equipment and technology in the construction industry.
 
"This initiative will help us in the harmonization of skills standards in the ASEAN. This can also boost efforts to set a productivity rate in the construction industry," he added.
 
Upping the ante on construction jobs, Villanueva said the Memorandum of Understanding that TESDA signed in Paris with the Assistance Formation Conseils aux Enterprises Group (AFCE) will give more prestige to jobs in the construction industry. 
 
"I’m sure that it will also result in more and better training opportunities for our youth, especially those aiming to enter the construction industry, and the creation of decent jobs that would stimulate our local economy," he said.
 
Villanueva said the new officers are now faced with the challenge of working hard to advance the construction industry.
 
"It requires your commitment to expand the choices of our people, especially the youth by making jobs in this industry attractive. In so doing, you can help us erase the stigma attached to tech-voc. I’m sure that the initiatives that you have in mind now, especially in response to the ASEAN Economic Community 2015, will be your legacy when your term ends," he said.
 
The incoming ACEL Board of Directors are Jovic P. Basilio, President; Onofre T. Banson, Jr., 1st Vice President; J. Eladio L. Angeles, 2nd Vice President; Jonathan R. Perez, Corporate Secretary; Ernesto G. Lim, Treasurer; Justo F. Manalo, Jr., Corporate Auditor; Eduardo P. Trinidad, P. R.O.; and Jose Amado Angeles, Ramonito E. Sicat, Abigail S. Mancilla, Jaime Philip AL. Campos as Directors; and, Lito G. Garcia, Ex- Officio.