Twenty nine (29) welding scholars from Mindoro recently finished their five-month training in a technical-vocational course under Malampaya Foundation Inc’s (MFI) BEST (Bridging Employment through Skills Training) program at Keppel shipyard in Bauan, Batangas.
The scholars, were sent to Keppel last December after they passed and complied with the necessary scholarship requirements supervised by the Technical Vocational School of Baco, Oriental Mindoro (BTVS).
Cecil Zulueta, administrator of BTVS , in her speech during their graduation held recently in the municipal gymnasium, said she is hopeful the new graduates will be gainfully employed as welders just like their previous trainees who landed in various jobs in Mindoro and Batangas.
Outgoing Baco Mayor Graciano de la Chica, under whose administration the BTVS was built,has acknowledged the support of Malampaya to his town particularly in poverty alleviation program which he said was his priority since he entered public service many years ago.
Teddy Bolivar, program manager of Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) told the graduates that they should “look back where they came from” by helping their respective families and their town of Baco once they get visible source of income as welders.
Bernadette Aceveda, 45, resident of Sta. Cruz, Baco and mother of this year’s BEST outstanding scholar said what was granted to them is truly a blessing which they will cherish for the rest of their life.
MFI and BTVS has an existing memorandum of agreement signed in 2012 and implemented through Malampaya’s BEST program by providing technical skills in welding among out-of-school youth in the said town.
