Seven students of Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) started their rigorous training in handling heavy equipment at the Victorias Milling Company, Inc. as part of the partnership agreement between the sugar mill and the academic institution.
In this collaborative program, DBTI students taking up Technical Vocation Education and Training (TVET) which is a registered course of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) program of the government, will have in-plant training and access to heavy equipment that will give them experience for post-course employment.
They are Arnold Espadilla, Jr., July Fernandez, Jerald Morgia, Joseph Rubido, Jr., Summy Superal, Reynaldo Talaban and Alfie Laud.
VMC has been mentoring the students on technical skills and work values and provided them the necessary tools and materials throughout the training. Moreover, VMC will cover the students’ insurance policy during their in-plant training and provide them with training allowance.
Chief Manufacturing Officer, Linley Retirado said this partnership is “part of VMC’s give-back program to our community as most of these students were out-of-school youths that were taken in under a scholarship program between VMC and DBTI.”
“It is a win-win program as it gives the students the chance to physically operate equipment that makes them employable with a chance to live a quality life right after they graduate, and it also gives our employees the opportunity to mentor and serve as inspiration to these students,” Retirado said.
He added that VMC has always been supportive of DBTI since it was established in 1941 and morale is high among the employees, many of whom are graduates of DBTI in the past.
“We will continue this partnership with DBTI because we believe in their mission to equip our youth with both technical skills and values that we in VMC share,” Retirado said.
