CEMENT manufacturer Holcim Philippines Incorporated remains committed to produce more skilled masons in the Philippines and in the region through its Galing Mason Program.
“Galing Mason program was started in the early 1990’s and it aims to help raise Filipino masons’ skills to recognize their contribution in building essential structures for national development and for the whole Mindanao,” William Sumalinog, Holcim Philippines senior vice president for Sales said at a Press Conference at Habi at Kape, Abreeza Ayala Malls, last Wednesday, July 11.
He assured that there would be double-digit graduates this year from when the program started.
“Our goal is not just simply developing cement but also develop skilled workers,” he added.
In connection with their investment related to the Build, Build, Build program of the administration, Holcim Philippines also aims to develop the skills of the workers apart from their construction-related innovations and solutions.
The Galing Mason program is also in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Philippine Contractors Association.
An agreement was made that all graduates of the program will be the priority masons to be hired by the member-contractors of the contractors association.
According to Sumalinog, they also have a Galing Mason Olympics for masons to uplift their line of work and to enhance their role in nation-building.
He said, currently, some masons and their children are ashamed of this job. The program serves as an avenue for them to be proud of their jobs. He emphasized that infrastructures would not exist if it had not been for masons. (Abigail Joyce C. Cahiwat, MSU-Marawi Intern)