Fatima Olacao, program leader of PASAR Trade and Technical Skills Development, welcomes the trainees on the first day of their industry practical trainingThe Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology (KEITECH) Educational Foundation Inc., founded by Energy Development Corporation (EDC), has deployed 18 trainees to the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation Inc. (PASAR) for their on-the-job training (OJT) program.

Trainees are enrollees of the program for KEITECH’s heavy industrial multi-process welding course. They have completed rigid in-campus skills training which commenced last August 2021. After the six-month training, KEITECH trainees have acquired three qualifications—Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) NC II and Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II.

Aside from these credentials, the 18 trainees underwent special training in construction occupational safety and health, basic firefighting, first aid and martial arts, among others. Military discipline and values formation were also integrated in the learning sessions.

Before the actual OJT deployment, the KEITECH team led by KEITECH management services OIC head and Office of Student Affairs head Santos Getalado paid a courtesy visit to PASAR Foundation president Ann Asupan. KEITECH discussed updates and the lineup of activities of the trainees with PASAR as well as more plans to strengthen their partnership. PASAR has sponsored a total of 83 scholars over the past four years.

Established by EDC in 2009, KEITECH has helped out-of-school youth from the municipality of Kananga and Ormoc City in Leyte acquire quality technical-vocational skills and good values, thereby making them highly in demand among employers in the country and abroad. (Story/Photos by: Frances Ariola)