Power grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on January 16 for the creation of the NGCP-UP Skills Camp, a skills training program specially designed for communities hosting its transmission lines and facilities.
The partnership includes establishing relationships with indigent residents of identified communities, conducting needs assessment analysis for livelihood programs, aside from the actual skills training. Through a separate partnership with the Philippine Employment Services Office, trainees who will complete the course will also be assisted for possible employment opportunities within their locality.
“We wanted to make this project a reality because we recognize the lack of skilled workers in various industries, especially in construction. The lack of knowledge and work standards jeopardize their safety, and the quality of work that they produce,” said NGCP President, Henry Sy, Jr.
NGCP will allot P50 Million for the entire program spread over the course of fuve years. The grid operator has identified a population of 155,000 residents in 29 communities, 62,000 of which are individuals in the labor market. The company projects that it will invest about P20,000 per household to achieve an end goal of long-term increased employability and income of project beneficiaries.
The program will start with an estimated 1000 residents from seven identified key areas near UP campuses in Los Baños (Laguna), Davao, Iloilo, and Tacloban (Leyte) benefitting from the project.
Sy emphasized the corporation’s goal of contributing to the alleviation of poverty and issues on job security.
“By providing skills training as part of NGCP’s corporate initiatives, we open more doors of job opportunities to our partner communities. The identified areas are our partners in protecting transmission facilities, and this project is a fulfillment of our vow to support their socio-economic development,” he said.
With no less than UP as their partner, the NGCP president expressed his optimism that the success of this project will be replicated in more areas in the future.
