Better worker skills to address labor issues

THE current dilemma on the lack of construction workers may be addressed through upscaling the skills of the workers, said Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) executive.

In an earlier interview with Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Davao Chapter Board of Director engineer Eddie Fuentes, he said with the Build, Build, Build program of the current administration, it follows that there would be shortage of construction skilled workers given that there would be an upsurge in the number of constructions especially in Mindanao.

On the other hand, the Philippine Employment and Services Office (Peso) Davao Region also reported that one of the most in-demand local jobs in the region are construction related especially masons, tile setters, and heavy construction equipment operators.

Fuentes earlier said they would be willing to partner with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in training skilled workers especially heavy equipment operators.

He said these training will help them produce more highly-skilled workers while helping address the shortage. With this training and career opportunities, they hope for lesser cases of construction skilled workers going abroad.

Fuentes said specific training would be needed for heavy equipment operators as they do not allow any drivers to just operate heavy construction equipment.

In an interview with Anvil Business Club president Patrick Cua, he said this lack of workers in the construction industry may be addressed, not only with increasing the number of workers, but with as honing their skills as well.

“It will also force us to upscale our people. The reason why we have shortage is maybe we’re inefficient or we’re not as skilled but the more you do it, the better you’ll be able to get it. You need to go through that birth pains to be able to later on have faster construction of roads, condos, bridges,” said Cua.

He added that this dilemma is only temporary and once addressed, the construction industry of the Philippines, specifically of Mindanao, will be able to build roads and bridges faster and in a much concentrated time frame.