TACLOBAN CITY-About 20 survivors of Yolanda from Leyte, one them a female, have graduated from free heavy equipment operator (HEO) course and earned the National Certificate II (NC II) from the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Dominic” Petilla, in an interview said that storm victims who finished from the free training were among the first batch of the series of trainings on the HEO course for this year. Petilla said that with the NC II qualifications from TESDA, the 20 graduates from Leyte can now apply in any business establishments or firms that are in need of their skills here in our country and abroad. The series of free trainings with the period of six weeks for each training course, is sponsored by the Korean military contingent stationed in Leyte in collaboration with TESDA and the Leyte provincial government. “The series of free trainings on HEO course will be conducted this year for more supertyphoon Yolanda victims,” Petilla said. The governor said that the participants were trained on the operations of forklift, truck mounted crane, bulldozer, hydraulic excavation and wheel loader. Petilla also said 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.(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
