Tripartite partnership to provide free Voc-Tech training to 3,000 Filipino youths

CEBU CITY— A tripartite partnership established by the Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) with social enterprise Asiapro Multi-purpose Cooperative and advocacy group Philippine Business Education (PBEd) through YouthWorks PH signed a tripartite memorandum on December 7 that guaranteed to provide free technical vocational training to over 3,000 Filipino youths until 2023.

According to Nina Ylagan-Pedro, Vice President for Corporate Affairs & Services, Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) that the partnership shall provide opportunities for a proper livelihood to the sector that needs it the most.

“It will also accelerate and strengthen the smooth hiring process of the skilled workforce requirement of Aboitiz Construction projects while providing flexible, cost-effective, and socially responsible solutions for manpower placement and protecting the welfare and rights of the youth workers,” Pedro added.

She went on that the ACI is offering work-related learning opportunities for the youth beneficiaries and will include periods of hands-on training, work shadowing, work-based mentoring, reviews, appraisal and work experience at the project sites across the Philippines.

Despite the pandemic, PBEd and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are implementing a three-part Flexible Training for Work program intended for unemployed and out-of-school youth through the YouthWorks PH project.

This involves remote mentoring, employability modules, TESDA-recognized theoretical online and/or face-to-face education, followed by an extensive in-company training led by ACI, Pedro said.

According to her ACI will also be working closely with Asiapro to ensure the selected beneficiaries are equipped with the right and necessary tools to perform the in-company extensive training and during this period of the program, trainees will have employee status under Asiapro and will be receiving statutory benefits and compensation.  

Asiapro is a pioneer multipurpose cooperative in the Philippines, providing customized managed services and specializes in manpower placement.  They provide opportunities for skilled workers proper compensation, statutory benefits, and dividends of the company.

Asiapro Multi-purpose Cooperative Chief Operating Officer, Noel Gonzales bared that Asiapro’s partnership with Youthworks Philippines and Aboitiz Construction follows the cooperative’s objectives of helping provide meaningful employment to the marginalized estimated 3000 young Filipinos that will go through the program.

PBEd on the other hand is a nonprofit organization advocating an educational system for all Filipinos and is the business community’s response to the need for greater education and economic alignment.

With USAID, PBEd implements YouthWorks PH, a private sector-led youth employability program. USAID administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. YouthWorks PH aims to bring employers, schools, and the government together to provide work-based training for unemployed and out-of-school youth.

USAID Philippines Acting Deputy Mission Director Jenna Diallo said that as the 3000 youth gain all these essential skills in this program, they’re also putting them on the path of quality employment.

“We're also providing our private sector partners with skilled, quality, human resources who can power their businesses and improve productivity moving forward," Diallo added.

Aboitiz Construction also understands the need to amplify its efforts in building a better future by partnering with driven and esteemed organizations that share their same vision and purpose to provide employment that will uplift the lives of more Filipinos.

According to ACI, it will work with these new partners to improve the quality of construction-related technical-vocational training programs for unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth, including the opportunity for job security; sequentially contributing to the Aboitiz Group’s purpose of advancing business and communities.

YouthWorks PH with Aboitiz Construction and Asiapro are inviting jobless and out-of-school youths aged 18-30 to register for free construction training opportunities at pbed.ph/youthworksph-register.