Quality workforce: A long-term investment

CEBU, Philippines - The quality of the country's labor force is one of the aspects that need to be enhanced considering the full integration of economies in the ASEAN region next year.

Training the workers to be more competitive and to be at par with their foreign counterparts should be deemed as an investment, according to the Philippine Society for Training and Development Cebu Corp.

Jovenir Bataican, president of PSTD, said companies should consider labor force development as a long-term investment and not as an additional operational cost.

The changing workplace and the advent of technology pose challenges to company executives and professionals, Bataican said in an interview.

The PSTD, for instance, is organizing its 2nd International Training and Development Summit at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino on Nov. 14.

Paulette Liu, HR senior vice president of Primary Structures Corporation and one of the events officer, said the summit aims to focus on the importance of planning and implementing a complete and sustainable learning cycle to advance performance goals not only of professionals but of companies as well.

Eight thought leaders will speak on best practices in learning and development.

Executive Coach to CEOs Bjorn Martinoff and The Apprentice Asia Season 1 Winner Jonathan Yabut will give keynote speeches on learning and development and leadership, respectively. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)