SM techvoc program produces 1st OSY graduates

NASUGBU, Batangas – Twenty-seven out-of-school youths from Nasugbu, Batangas graduated from their 40hour (five days) technical vocational skills training program, the first onsite program launched by the SM Foundation Inc. in the province.

The Foundation has been running its off site or schoolbased techvoc program for several years now but this is the first it would do on site, or right at the communities where the beneficiaries hail from.

Among those that graduated from the course was a former barangay captain of Barangay Looc, Capt. Marcos Guevarra, whose wife succeeded him this year with her election to the post.

The beneficiaries are school dropouts because they could not afford pursuing a college education due to poverty.

SM Foundation is now assessing the beneficiaries prior to their certification by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for employment here or abroad.

The courses offered during the program were: welding (with 10 students); refrigeration and air-conditioning, nine; and electrical installation and maintenance, eight. These are the courses that have a big demand in the country.

Linda Atayde, executive director for education of SM Foundation, assured the graduates that support would not end with their graduation. “As soon as you get your certifications from TESDA, come to us and we will give you letters endorsing you to possible employers so you can be employed faster.”

The techvoc program of the SM Foundation has been going on since 2007 – or 11 years ago – based in accredited schools led by Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City.

But this is the first community-based (or onsite) techvoc program of the foundation which it would continue in the coming months, Atayde said.

Nasugbu is one of the communities being built and supported by the foundation as it also hosts important properties and developments of the SM Group.

But now, the center would also train out of school youths on these new skills for better employability, Atayde said.

Among those who spoke during the graduation were Fr. Jose Dindo Vitug, technical director of Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati; Maria Angelica Lucas, senior estate manager of Costa de Hamilo Inc., Mar Chavez, resident manager and administrative engineer of Manila South Coast Development Corp and Atayde. There were testimonials given by graduates namely: Marcos Guevarra for welding; Ace Diago, refrigeration and airconditioning and June Dimaisip, for electrical installation and maintenance.