Fifth District Board Member Melvin Ibañez, congratulated the dependents of sugar workers and out-of-school youth who composed the 29th batch of trainees of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Sugar Workers Foundation Inc., Technical Skills Training Center during their recent graduation at NFSP compound, Bacolod-Murcia Road, Alijis, Bacolod City, a press release from the federation said.

In his messages, Ibañez reminded the graduates that they should be grateful to be among the thousands who benefited from socio-economic program of the NFSP.

“The training you received from NFSP has endowed you with highly employable skills which you can use to improve the quality of your lives and that of your family,” Ibañez said.

He also exhorted the graduates that, although they have finished only technical-vocational courses, they can use their newly-acquired skills and knowledge, coupled with dedication and hard work, as a launching pad for their success in life.

Teresita Campantero of the Technical Skills Development Authority confirmed that the training of the graduates has complied with the world-class standards of TESDA.

Merciditas Montilla of Sipalay City attended the graduation rites. She lauded NFSP program for being pro-poor and wished that it will continue so that more farm workers and dependents can benefit from it.

Montilla was the donor of a two-hectare prime property beside the national highway of Sipalay for the construction of a modern hospital to serve the medical needs, not only of the people of Sipalay but those of neighboring localities as well, the press release said.

The 29th batch underwent training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Automotive Servicing, Building wiring Installation and Computer Hardware Servicing.

With the new graduates, NFSP’s skills training program has produced more than five thousand skilled workers since it opened in 2002, the press release said.

“Through this endeavor, we give our farm workers and their dependents the tools to uplift their economic status by providing them with opportunities outside the farm,” NFSP president Enrique Rojas said.

Together with other NFSP officers, Rojas conceptualized the in-house training program which has now become an institution as an effective intervention in upgrading the economic status of farm workers and their dependents, the press release said.

With the skills they have acquired, almost 80 percent of the graduates are immediately absorbed in the work force of transport, communication and construction industries, as well as by sugar mills.

Several have been deployed, abroad, particularly in the Middle East, Korea, Japan, Canada and New Zealand, the press release added.*

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