Bulacan – Mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) na naapektuhan ng pandemiya na makapagtrabaho para sa itatayong International Airport sa Bulacan habang sisimulan na ng San Miguel Corporation ( SMC) ang training para sa mga lokal na residente rito na inaasahang magbibigay ng hanapbuhay sa libu-libong residente mula sa Bulacan at karatig probinsya sa mga darating na taon.
Ayon kay SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang ay bibigyang prayoridad ang mga residente ng Bulacan at Taliptip sa hiring na gagawin. May 60 residente na ang magsisimula ng kanilang training sa Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“We designed these skills training program with TESDA specifically to equip Bulakenos with the necessary skills needed to either work at the airport project, put up a small businesses to support airport workers, or even start on their own elsewhere if they choose to do so,” wika ni Ang.
“Over the next couple of years, construction of this massive airport will generate hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. We will prioritize local residents, but there will be so many jobs and livelihood opportunities that ultimately, workers will come from all over Bulacan, Central Luzon, even Metro Manila and southern Luzon,” dagdag pa Ang.
Maliban sa mga lokal na residente ay bubuksan rin ng SMC ang mga trabaho para sa mga OFWs na bumabalik sa bansa dahil sa pagbaba ng ekonomiya sa buong mundo
“A lot of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) had to return to the country in recent months after they lost their jobs. Many are not sure if they will be getting new contracts from their foreign employers given the difficult economic conditions. With this world-class airport project, those who will opt to stay home will no longer be separated from families and will have a viable option,” wika ni Ang.
“We have so many talented and experienced Filipino skilled workers and engineers and they can really be an asset to this project. It’s a project they can be proud of, and tell their grandchildren about,” dagdag pa niya.
Kahit pa may pandemya ay itutuloy ng SMC ang mga large-scale infrastructure projects nito tulad ng airport para mabigyan ng hanapbuhay ang maraming Pilipino at mapasigla ang ekonomiya.
“Construction activities will have an immediate economic impact on so many sectors. These create much-needed jobs that put money in people’s hands and allow them and their families to spend for their needs. This spending benefits many small and medium businesses, local eateries, sari-sari stores, groceries, and service establishments,” ani Ang .
“Apart from direct jobs, the company also has to pay for suppliers of materials, equipment, or services, which then generates even more jobs and benefits more people. Short to medium-term, we can help so many Filipinos with jobs and help kickstart our economic recovery. Long-term, this airport will help create even more growth opportunities for our country,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang unang batch ng 60 dating residente ng Taliptip ay magsasanay ng mga kurso tulad ng shielded metal arc welding, electrical installation and maintenance, at heavy equipment operations. Ituturo rin ang mga kursong dressmaking and cookery para sa gusting maging self-employed. Mabibigyan ang lahat ng magtatapos ang kanya-kayang toolkits.
Ang mga naturang kurso na aabot ng 10 hanggang 20 araw ay nilibre ng SMC. Matapos ang ang kurso ay magkakaroon ng TESDA skills assessment test bago mabigyan ng National Certificates o NCII.
Kasama pa dito ang entrepreneurship training na aabot ng tatlong araw three days para makapagsimula ng sariling negosyo.
Ang mga graduate naman ng heavy equipment Operator, electrical installation and maintenance, at shielded metal arc welding courses ay ire-refer sa SMC Aerocity, na siyang may hawak ng airport development.
Ayon kay Ang ay tuluy-tuloy ang mga raining na ito na hindi para lamang sa mga taga Taliptip ngunit para na rin sa mga taga-Bulacan upang matugunan ang mga job requirements sa airport at magkaroon rin ng livelihood ang mga residente.
Ang P734-billion na airport project na ipapatayo ng SMC na walang gastos ang gobyerno ay mayroong apat na parallel runways at may karagdagan pang dalawa; world-class terminal, at an infrastructure network na may kasamang mass rail system.
Kaya ng airport na ito na tumanggap ng 100 milyong pasahero kada taon at gagawa ng 30 milyon na trabaho na may kinalaman sa turismo. Magkakaroon rin ng mahigit isang milyong trabaho sa Bulacan at katabing probinsya.