One hundred dependents of sugarcane farm workers completed the 22 nd technical skills training of the NFSP Sugar Workers Foundation Livelihood and Technical Skills Training Center at the NFSP Compound, Bacolod-Murcia Road , Alijis, Bacolod City yesterday, a press release from the group.

The beneficiaries, who are dependents of farm workers employed by sugar producers affiliated with the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, learned highly employable skills in welding, automotive servicing, computer operations and hardware servicing and building wiring installation.

The curriculum, facilities and equipment for each technical course have been certified as compliant with the upgraded, world-class training standards of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

TESDA Negros Occidental director Yolanda Porschwitz confirmed that the graduates had met their training standards.

The event's guest speaker, Ernesto Hinojas Sr., encouraged the graduates to love their work so that they will be competitive in the workplace and achieve self-fulfillment.

NFSP vice president for Western Visayas , Jaime Golez, welcomed the parents and guests in behalf of NFSP president Enrique Rojas. Golez is also the president of the Association of Productive Planters of Negros Occidental, an association that consistently sends dependents of its farm workers for training at NFSP training center and has facilitated the deployment of some of its beneficiaries for employment abroad.

Since the training center started in 2002, it has helped almost 4,000 farm workers and their dependents.

Most of the graduates have secured employment because of the highly in-demand skills they learned from the training center.

Some graduates have been employed abroad, NFSP said.

Beneficiaries come from Negros, Panay, Cebu , Bukidnon, and Cotabato.

For the 22 nd Batch, the participating NFSP member-associations include the Bogo-Medellin Planters Assn., Bukidnon Planters Assn., Cotabato Sugarcane Planters MPC, and the Association of Productive Planters of Negros Occidental.

The Integrated Sugarcane Growers of Negros, Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Assn., and the Northern Negros Planters Assn., also sent participants.

The United Sagay-Escalante-Toboso Planters Assn., United South VMC Planters Assn., Sagay-Escalante Planters Assn., and the United Cadiz Sugarcane Planters Association, also sent trainers.*

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