43 youths graduate from Beneco’s vocational courses

June 17, 2012 in Cordillera

By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Fourty-three youth graduated from the vocational courses offered and fully-funded by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) under its social responsibility program. The commencement exercises happened on June 14 at the Beneco extension office in Buyacaoan, Buguias, Benguet.

Beneco’s graduates render a number during their commencement program. Photo courtesy of Joel Cervantes

Out of the 43 scholars, 20 graduates of the electrical installation and maintenance (EIM) will work for Beneco’s house wiring connections at the different sitios that are presently under its energization program. The 23 graduates of the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) will have their on-the-job-training at the Beneco’s motor pool at Alapang, La Trinidad, Benguet. All of them will receive minimum wage as compensation, a Beneco official said.

Benguet Provincial Board Member Florence Tingbaoen was the guest speaker of the graduation program who admired the TESDA accredited courses. Representatives of mayors Melchor Diclas of Buguias, Marcelo Contada of Bakun, and Materno Luspian of Mankayan also gave their messages in the said program. General Manager Gerardo Verzosa of Beneco and some of the cooperative’s directors were also present.

The EIM graduates are the 5th batch since they started the program known as Beneco Skills Development Training Center (BSDTC). The program is accredited by the government’s TESDA, explained Engr. Artemio M. Bacoco, General Manager of the Northern Sub Area Department of Beneco.

He added that the 23 SMAW graduates are the first batch of the said short course.

Since Beneco’s BSDTC program started in November 2010, it has already produced 150 graduates in the vocational courses, added Bacoco. These graduates also worked after on Beneco’s energization program of the remote sitios, its main focus, and making them immediately apply the skills they learned from BSDTC.

Fourty-seven sitios had been energized by BENECO with the involvement of their graduates, Nordis learned from Bacoco.

The graduates, who are all from Benguet province, took their courses free from tuition and other fees as a part of Beneco’s commitment outlined in its social responsibility program.

The requirements for the scholarship program of Beneco are: their parents must be member of the said cooperative, high school graduates, barangay certification, medical certificate, and endorsed by any directors of Beneco. # nordis.net