44 out-of-school youths finish skills training

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

CLARK FREEPORT - At least 44 out-of-school youths from two barangays in Mabalacat and Bamban towns have completed a skills training spearheaded by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).

Benigno Ricafort, president of the CDC, said 16 participants completed a nine-day basic massage therapy course while another 28 finished a course on food and beverage handling.

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The trainings were held at the Next Frontier Office, formerly the premises of the Sacobia Development Authority, in Barangay San Vicente, Bamban, Tarlac.

Ricafort said the recently concluded trainings were part of the CDC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs aimed at creating jobs and projects that address community concerns.

The CSR programs, according to Ricafort, "generally believes that business could positively translate into social and community development, not only in the form of jobs created, but also in the form of implementing projects and programs that are meant to address community concerns, needs, and aspirations."

Ricafort also said the training programs designed for the Next Frontier are meant to bridge the gap between the industries and locators of the Freeport and the people residing in the communities inside the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).

This will be done through appropriate skills trainings and livelihood projects for the community settlers that can meet the skills and support requirements of the locators inside Clark's Main zone and CSEZ.

"At the community level, the trainings are part of the firm's Community Extension Services Office-Project Management Office efforts to gain community acceptance, support, and participation to the goals and objectives of the Next Frontier Development Program," Ricafort said.

He added that the curriculum outline and content of the trainings on both massage therapy and basic waitering, banqueting service and basic bartending and beverage service are approved and certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

The trainers for the project, who come from the Mabalacat Public Employment Service Office, are also Tesda certified, Ricafort said. (Charlene Cayabyab)