Tacloban City, Philippines — Nineteen males and one female from the province of Leyte who were victims of super typhoon Yolanda have graduated from free heavy equipment operator course and earned the National Certificate II from the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority, a report from the Leyte provincial government said.
Leyte Provincial Governor Leopoldo Dominico "Dominic" L. Petilla in an interview at his office here told media that the super typhoon Yolanda victims from his province who graduated from the free training are among the first batch of the series of training on the HEO course this year for the super typhoon Yolanda victims.
He added that for this first batch, the 20 super typhoon Yolanda victims are among the 39 graduates with 19 military men from the Engineering Battalion.
Governor Petilla informed reporters the series of free trainings with the period of 6 weeks for each training course, is sponsored by the Korean military contingent stationed in Leyte in collaboration with TESDA and the Leyte Provincial Government.
"Series of free trainings on HEO course will be conducted this year for more super typhoon Yolanda victims," he said.
Governor Petilla said the participants were trained on the operations of Forklift, Truck Mounted Crane, Bulldozer, Hydraulic Excavation and Wheel Loader.
He also told reporters that throughout the duration of the course, TESDA shouldered the three-week theoretical aspects of the training, the Koreans also assumed the three-week practical side and the hands-on operation of the heavy equipment which they also provided, while his office offered the venue, participated in the planning process and the recruitment of the participants.
He said that with the NC II qualifications from TESDA, the 20 super typhoon Yolanda victim graduates from his province, can now apply in any business establishments or firms that are in need of their skills here in our country and abroad. —/JMD (FREEMAN)