NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and representatives of Dualtech Training Center Foundation Inc. along with Buglas Foundation Inc. Wednesday, February 20, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for a technical vocational scholarship program that will benefit Negrense students.
Dualtech was represented by its executive director Jerry Webb Muhi and registrar Rodolfo Sta. Ana III, while Buglas was represented by its president Ramon Felix Gonzales during the signing held at the Provincial Capitol Building in Bacolod City.
The initial 20 students belong to the first batch of scholars coming from different cities and municipalities in the province.
They first passed the exam and interview conducted by Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division and Dualtech, before qualifying for the said scholarship.
The scholarship program is aimed at producing high quality electromechanics technicians for industrial complexes in Negros Occidental and in the country as well.
Also, it aims to help many poor but deserving young Negrenses to be trained as electromechanics technicians under the dual training system.
Dualtech is a technical school in Calamba, Laguna with more than a thousand scholars from different provinces in the country. Buglas is its partner organization.
The institution’s main program focuses on electromechanics technology that teaches basic skills, industrial skills, personal development, and further knowledge that include digital electronics and basic automation.
Marañon reiterated that the greatest social equalizer is the giving quality education to the less privileged.
“The techvoc scholarship is the best investment. There are more work opportunities but there are less individuals who qualify for the job,” he added.
Muhi said their training center has produced over 12,000 graduates since 1982. Of the figure, 98 percent were employed within a year after graduation.
With 140 partner companies, Muhi said they have been producing several entrepreneurs and workers in industrial parks in located in Calabarzon, National Capital Region, and even abroad.
Sta. Ana, for his part, said their scholarship program is a step towards achieving the students’ dream of becoming future engineers and architects.
Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca and Provincial Planning and Development Officer Ma. Lina Sanogal witnessed the signing ceremony.
Also present were parents and guardians of the scholars. They expressed gratitude to the governor for the scholarship program.
It will help them provide a better future for their children, they said.
The scholars, for their part, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to them.
They also expressed determination to finish their studies in two years to be able to work for their families. (PR)