Sarangani scholars to train in Japan

By BON-BON QUIÑO

ALABEL, Sarangani (January 13, 2012) – Twelve scholars of the Philippine-Nippon Technical College (PNTC), all from Sarangani, are scheduled to fly to Japan in the first quarter of the year to be trained by Japan’s top industrial companies, and at the same time, to earn.

PNTC teamed up with the provincial government through the Strengthening Technological Advancement for Reforms (STAR) Project under the office of Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon in identifying qualified applicants for an opportunity to acquire technical skills and earn in Japan.

The 12 scholars who underwent skills training in Padada, Davao Del Sur and Calamba, Laguna passed and qualified for internship.

PNTC is a Japanese affiliated-technical school in the Philippines that offers study-now-pay later technical courses and free Japanese language study to qualified applicants under their Education to Career Assistance Program (ETCAP).

Qualified applicants are already considered scholars. Scholars who are high school graduates, under graduate, or graduated with vocational courses, undergo free three-month Japanese language training at PNTC in Padada, Davao Del Sur and four-month skills training in Calamba, Laguna. For scholars with college degree, the language and skills training are conducted in Laguna with free accommodation, food, fare and allowances. Skills training include welding, machining, painting, electronics, heavy equipment, and automotive.

With the assistance of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), scholars who passed the examination and met the qualifications will then be chosen by the accepting Japanese companies through their country representatives for further training in Japan under the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) Program.

POEA ensures that all scholars send to Japan are considered trainees and not as employees or workers; they shall be turned over to JITCO when they arrive in Japan for cultural and values orientation and their official deployment to identified companies.

More or less 1,800 PNTC graduates are currently training in Japan.

Tomas Delator, 19 years old, and a former fast-food chain crew from barangay Talus, Malungon, and five others, were set to fly to Japan on January 16.

“This is a big help. The opportunity to pass and qualify as PNTC scholar through the support and endorsement of the Office of the Vice Governor is very seldom. This will hopefully improve our life,” Delator said. Delator is set to work in Hitachi Kasado, a bullet-train repair and assembly plant in Japan.

Wilbert Sara, a graduate of management accounting and a former employee of the Municipal Accounting Office in Alabel is scheduled to go to Japan this February. “The scholarship opens opportunities for us. I am encouraging my fellow youth to help themselves. Do not just dream for yourself but strive harder to help your parents. Do not forget to pray and be mindful of where you came from. Opportunities are everywhere but we have to work harder to be successful,” Sara said. He took up his Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) training at PNTC in Laguna.

In his message to the PNTC scholars, Vice Governor Solon said: “This is a good opportunity, a God-given opportunity. This is an opportunity to benefit not only yourself but your family and the Province of Sarangani. So good luck and God Bless.”

Other PNTC scholars assisted by STAR project are: Danny Boy Ojayas, Eric Jones Himota, Jake Rosa, Reymart Badaran, Loreto Mogpon, Carlito Lumpan, Louie Coloma, John Patrick Empuerto, Cloudee Jim Olarter, and Santiago Pantalita Jr., all from Malungon; Jomelito Wanal, Ronald Kevin Sanchez, and Ronald Pallar,from Alabel; Jose Pepito Español of Glan; Merald Jay Rivera, Francis Leo Serna, Archie Alta, Mark Anthony Castro, and Reinz Michael Alta, all from Maitum; and Dennis Anthony Ofredo and Julius Ceasar Patagnan, both from Kiamba. For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani (Bon-Bon Quiño/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)