|
A NEW and important investment in the Philippines by
British engineering giant Balfour Beatty will enable hundreds of
Filipino engineers and workers to upgrade their skills and
capabilities to world-class standards. In addition they will have
the opportunity to put their skills to productive use by possible
guaranteed employment in projects abroad.
A groundbreaking ceremony held at
the Carm
ray Industrial Park II in Calamba,
Laguna, laid the foundations for a state-of-the-art engineering
facility and educational center piece that is being constructed by
the British company that has consistently shown confidence in the
Filipino worker for the past 15 years when it has been involved in
undertaking major engineering and construction projects here.
Balfour Beatty is establishing an
engineering school and training center that will enhance Filipino
engineering know-how and workers’ skills and open up work
opportunities for them in the global marketplace.
The company will be shouldering
the costs of educating and training hundreds of Filipinos, giving
priority to disadvantaged communities such as the Aetas of Central
and Northern Luzon, and orphans of violence—particularly the
children of police and military personnel who were killed in the
line of duty.
British Charge d’Affaires Colin
Crorkin underlined the United Kingdom’s desire to bring tangible
skills and knowledge that would improve the Filipino worker’s
competitiveness and secure a healthy environment for the Philippines
to develop a realistic and viable industrial strategy.
“Balfour Beatty’s investment
will make a difference for the Philippines over the long term—in
this case the training of Filipinos in engineering and the sciences
at their own cost,” said Crorkin.
The center will provide training
that marches in step with the demands of the global engineering and
construction industry. Engineering graduates will be trained as
overhead line engineers, while Filipino high-school graduates will
be trained to become skilled linesmen capable of managing overhead
transmission lines combined with state-of-the-art safety practices.
Participants will enjoy an added
dividend after they graduate—the chance to work in Balfour
Beatty’s in-house projects around the world.
Balfour Beatty is establishing
the training center at the cost of P300 million and expects to fully
train and qualify at least 750 graduates over the next five years.
Balfour Beatty Group’s Philippine office will also be housed in
the Laguna complex.
In addition to British Embassy
Charge d’Affaires Colin Crorkin, other key guests present at the
groundbreaking ceremony were Eduardo Abores, president of
Carmel-ray; Roger Reyuan, deputy director of Tesda; Assistant
Secretary Manuel Zapanta of the Office of External Affairs, Malacañang;
Marianito Roque, OWWA administrator; Graha-me Coles, business
director of Balfour Beatty Power Networks-Asia Pacific; David
Hopkinson, country examinations manager of the British Council; and
Martha Hernan-dez, executive director of Tedsa.
Crokin added: “By providing a
center of learning that will produce so many graduates over a
five-year period, the multiplier effect will be significant.
Producing highly skilled engineering graduates, using the latest
technologies, creates a pool of talent that is both sought after and
mobile. The opportunity for literally hundreds of families—which
works out to thousands of individuals—to prosper and achieve a
good career as a result of Balfour Beatty’s investment is clearly
evident.”
--Email: bizzfizz_98@yahoo.com
|
