EDC breaks ground for Kananga’s first techvoc institute

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 19, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Premier geothermal company, the Energy Development Corporation, true to its commitment to pursuing sustainable CSR-educational programs, held the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology on December 5, 2008 with the audacious goal of training world-class nation builders.

The groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremony was attended by the off EDC President and CEO Paul A. Aquino, Kananga Mayor Elmer S. Codilla and representatives of TESDA. They were joined by Leyte SB Member Godfrey Capanas, Kananga Vice-Mayor Macario Lumangtad, Kananga Councilor Nenito Sanchez, EDC Drilling Vice President Mario Taguines and EDC Community Partnerships Manager for Leyte Emil Argoncillo.

Mr. Dave Devilles, Corporate Communications Officer, said that the project is intended as a world-class post-secondary technical- vocational training center with hardware and software components for three (3) major technical sectors, namely Construction, Metals & Engineering and Tourism/Health/Social services.

With technical assistance to be provided by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through a Memorandum of Agreement, this is expected to develop into five (5) sectors with the addition of Automotive and Electronics components, in three years.

A foundation to be called “Kananga-EDC Educational Foundation” will be set up on a 50-50% (at the start) ownership basis between Kananga LGU and EDC. Composition of the foundation will include four members of Kananga LGU and another four members from EDC as incorporators/trustees.  The Treasurer will be the EDC’s Leyte Resident Manager.

The foundation will run the institute which will be known as “Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology”.  It is envisioned that EDC will provide the hardware components of the project.  The foundation will pay for all operating expenses and software at the start. Thereafter, it is expected that the graduates will repay back the training center through a “study now pay later” scheme.  Hardware components including the land will be leased to the foundation at P1.00 per year.

“The Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology is our second project that will address the employment needs of the host community where we operate. The Institute is a fitting follow-through to our Schools for Excellence Project which aims to provide quality basic education. And like SFE, the Institute will also adopt the multi-partnership approach to make it sustainable. We laud Mayor Eming Codilla for having the same vision. The Kananga LGU has approached EDC to help develop their manpower skills to address unemployment of Kananga residents due to lack of skills,” EDC Pres. & CEO Paul Aquino said.