Cebu Pacific, Benilde empowering deaf students

MANILA, Philippines — In a move to advance workforce inclusivity, the Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific has partnered with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) to offer internship opportunities for deaf students and nurture future professionals in the aviation and tourism industry.

The country’s leading carrier formalized the tie-up with Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) through a memorandum of agreement to provide deaf learners an opportunity to undergo immersion in a professional setting and gain experience across the airline’s operations.

Cebu Pacific was represented by chief human resources officer Felix Lopez, while vice chancellor for academics Angelo Marco Lacson and SDEAS dean Marian Patricia Bea Francisco inked the deal for Benilde.

“This is the first time a major airline has opened its doors to deaf student interns. As more entities open their doors to deaf students, more inclusive work environments are created,” Francisco said.

Under the airline’s Find the Leader in You internship program, three SDEAS interns from the Business Service Outsourcing Management Track are currently collaborating alongside hearing students from various colleges and universities.

“For some young deaf students, just like their hearing peers, they dream of working in the aviation industry. However, this dream may seem far-fetched,” Francisco said. “Through this partnership, they are taking a step toward their dreams.”

The deaf interns began the program in June and will end their internship this August, which allowed them to gain practical exposure to the airline’s day-to-day operations.

“We’re excited to welcome our students from DLS-CSB to Cebu Pacific and learn alongside them,” Lopez said. “Internships are often a person’s first step into the workforce, and we want that experience to be meaningful, supportive and empowering.”

Before the internship program started, SDEAS conducted a deaf awareness session for the airline employees on deaf culture, inclusive communication techniques and strategies to improve workplace accessibility.