Adults return to school for welding

With PGMA's TW scholarship, adults return to school for welding

Catbalogan City -- With President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's training for work scholarship coupon of P10,000.00 each, some 15 adults, including graduates of BS courses returned to school particularly Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Insitute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) in Calbayog City.

Today, August 28, they received their scholarship certificates from TESDA-Samar Provincial Director Cleta Omega.

Rosalino Narciso is a former OFW who now works as a driver in Calbayog City. He learned from his friends about the third batch of recruitment for Shielded Metal Arm Welding (SMAW). He and four others trooped to register with Mr. Virgilio Galvez, their instructor in welding at TTMIST.

Narciso, 35 and another classmate Ricardo Galbos 37 seem more mature than the first year college freshmen who also received scholarship coupons, yet the group does not mind.

They are keen on seeking surefire jobs that they perform better in their welding lessons, said their instructor.

Classes here are really hands on! Everyone is given the chance to apply the theories learned in the early part of their classes, explained Narciso.

Still another classmate, Julius Juntilla who is a graduate of BS in Industrial Technology (BSIT) and who remains jobless up to now, returned to TTMIST to learn welding.

Juntilla said he was inspired by another graduate of SMAW named Mark Sagarol who now works at Our Lady of Porziuncula Hospital as welder.

A classmate whispered that Mark would be hired by a shipbuilder in Subic once his papers are processed.

These good news of employment has inspired these 'jobless' adults to try welding.

"Madali makatrabaho," Galbos said. He said that he used to work as a casual employee at the DPWH but with his time in training at welding full time, he intends to focus on his training and perfect his skill.

Come September, this group of men would be undergoing an assessment from TESDA for them to get a National Certificate on welding.

The NC ll certificate would qualify them to work as welders either in Hanjin at Subic or a shipyard in Cebu, offered Mr. Ben Mar from TESDA.

In an LCD presentation done by Ms. Omega, it showed that more than a thousand welders are needed in the shipbuilding industry. (By Ninfa B Quirante - PIA-Samar)