Tech-voc grads to help in Yolanda rebuild

KANANGA, LEYTE, Philippines - – Ninety-one future nation builders graduated this month from the construction training crash course of the Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology (KEITECH).

They are the first batch of some 1,000 men and women that the Energy Development Corp. would be training in the next two years to meet the lack of manpower to help rebuild Yolanda-ravaged Leyte.

The graduates finished KEITECH’s new and shorter curriculum on electrical installation and maintenance (EIM), carpentry and plumbing. Of the 91, 39 finished EIM, 27 are now plumbers and 25 completed carpentry. They also have basic competencies in masonry and shielded metal arc wielding and have acquired National Certification (NC) II from TESDA.

Since it started in 2009, KEITECH has kept its 100 percent passing rate in TESDA’s National Certifications.

“We are set to produce 1,000 trained workers in two years ready for employment with various local contractors in rebuilding the devastated areas in the province. As we did with the previous graduates, we will facilitate their employment through KEITECH’s placement office,” KEITECH president Paul Aquino said.

KEITECH has put on hold its regular training programs to conduct this much-needed crash course.

The graduates will be recommended to the contractors of the school projects of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and EDC itself.

KEITECH is a tripartite project of EDC, the municipality of Kananga and TESDA. It has produced 530 graduates since 2009, 92 percent of whom are employed here and abroad.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) Undersecretary Danilo Antonio was guest of honor at the graduation. “I am impressed with KEITECH. It has complete facilities. The structure of EDC is beyond minimum and is a lot better. KEITECH is a perfect example of what a training institute should be,” Antonio said.