Mas palalawigin pa ng San Miguel Corporation (SMC) ang skills development program nito sa tulong ng Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) sa mas marami pang lalawigan.
“As our economy starts opening up, there is an urgent need to help the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors get back on their feet. Many have lost their jobs or small businesses during this pandemic, and what we aim to do is upskill them, so they can pursue better job opportunities and help them start or restart their small businesses and allow them to participate in the economy’s growth post-pandemic,”ayon kay SMC president Ramon S. Ang.Samantala, tutulungan rin nito ang maliliit na negosyo sa Bulacan, isa na rito ang halos 1,000 katao mula sa Barangay Talitip kung saan itatayo ang New Manila International Airport at Aerocity at iba pang coastal barangays sa nasabing lalawigan na nabigyan ng mga libreng pagsasanay o training.
Kabilang din sa programa ang 300 pamilya sa Sariaya, Quezon na isasailalim dinsa mga pagsasanay dahil sa itatayo ritong agro-industrial facility.
Kasalukuyang isinasagawa rin ang training sa General Santos City at isusunod ito sa mga lalawigan ng Bataan, Batangas, at Davao.
Binigyan rin ng kumpanya ng karagdagang capital assistance ang mahigit sa 100 pamilya sa Bulacan para sa makapagtayo o karagdagang puhunan sa kanilang mga negosyo.
Nagpasalamat si Ang sa TESDA dahil kahit na may limitasyon ang face-to-face training dahil sa pandemya ay umabot sa 1,000 katao ang sumali sa programa.
“We thank the TESDA headed by Isidro Lapena for joining us in this effort that combines the resources of San Miguel and TESDA, to work for the good of many. We are looking forward to the expansion of this program to more provinces nationwide, and seeing its transformative impact on our countrymen who are looking to recover from the pandemic,” ani Ang.
Matagal nang kasama ng SMC ang TESDA sa corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs nito sa ilalim ng San Miguel Foundation (SMF).
Sa ilalim ng MOA sa SMC ay sagot ng TESDA ang skills training, training venues, assessments, at certificates of competency.
Pinopondohan naman ng SMC ang training fees, assessment fees, at ibang pang gastusin ng trainees na hindi qualified sa regular TESDA scholarship. Sagot trin ng SMC ang transportation at food allowance sa training.
Ang mga training program na umaabot ng dalawa hanggang 36 na araw ay naisagawa sa Bulacan, Sariaya in Quezon province, at General Santos City.
Ang mga nagtapos sa SMC-TESDA partnership program ay nanggaling sa 277 pamilya mula sa Bulakan, Bulacan na dating nakatira sa Brgy. Taliptip. Nauna na silang nabigyan ng cash assistance para makapagpatayo ng sarili nilang bahay.
Kasama rin sa beneficiaries ang 302 na pamilya sa Sariaya, Quezon na karamihan ay nakatira sa San Miguel-Christian-Gayeta Homes sa Barangay Castanas.
Itatayo ang NMIA at ang Aerocity development sa Bulakan habang sa Sariaya naman itatayo ang agro-industrial complex na may brewery, grains terminal, feedmill, a ready-to-eat food manufacturing plant, high-tech poultry facility, a fuel tank farm, at port facilities.
Kasama sa mga kurso ng SMC-TESDA program ang heavy excavator operator, electrical installation and maintenance, shielded metal arc welding, dressmaking, beads and accessories making, fish processing, dessert-making, doormat and rugs making, entrepreneurship training, bread and pastry production, hollow block making, at meat processing.
Umabot na 165 na katao mula sa 14 coastal barangays ng Bulacan ang nabigyan ng puhunan sa ilalim ng SMC additional capital assistance initiative matapos sumali sa dalawang araw na entrepreneurship program.
“While the community reselling program is successful, we’ve also diversified the kinds of businesses that can be included in the program. Future beneficiaries can avail of additional cash capital for small businesses like eateries, rice stores, fish processing, as well as online businesses. Apart from capital, we also provided them entrepreneurship training. We also have mechanisms in place to monitor their progress and make sure they have the best chances to succeed,”wika ni Ang.