By Niño Manaog
University Extension Associate
Capiz State University
 |
| MALIPAYON NGA PASKWA GID (From left) CapSU President Editha Magallanes, DOLE Capiz Director Ricardo Monegro and CapSU Extension Director Raul Ticar facilitate the awarding of a welding starter kit to a beneficiary in December 2011 in Roxas City. The Php.8M worth of welding equipment given out during Christmas season was designed to help address poverty in the rural communities of the province. |
In one of the most generous gestures made before Christmas, the Capiz State University (CapSU), working hand in hand with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Capiz and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Capiz, gave out some 100 welding starter kits to the residents of some three towns of Capiz and Roxas City on December 14, 2011 at the Dadivas Gymnasium in Roxas City.
Led by CapSU President Editha Magallanes, the awarding ceremony of 100 Kabuhayan Starter Kits formed part of the Mobile Technology School (MTS) project in partnership with DOLE and TESDA.
 |
| Remar Apolinario of CapSU Roxas hands a starter kit to a beneficiary during the ceremonies in Dadivas Gym in December 2011. |
According to Dr. Carmelino Villanueva, extension chairman of CapSU Roxas Campus who hosted the ceremonies, the recipients are actually the students of the MTS classes in Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) in the last two years, considered the brainchild under the Magallanes administration.
Twenty-nine recipients came from the three barangays—Tiza, Milibili and Talon—of Roxas City; 26 from Panit-an, 13 from Ivisan; nine from Sigma; and 23 from Mambusao, all of the province of Capiz.
In her speech, CapSU President Magallanes took pride in the extensive extension work being initiated and undertaken by the university, urging the beneficiaries to take stock of the opportunities given to them by the three institutions.
 |
| Advocating numerous programs, CapSU President Editha Magallanes promotes the extension activities of the university which to help address the concerns of the communities across Capiz. |
Magallanes addressed the audience, saying that they are virtually CapSU Graduates. She also asked them to promote agriculture-based courses and CapSU itself in their endeavors. Magallanes said that livelihood partnerships such as these form part of the community-based initiatives under her administration designed to help alleviate poverty in the communities.
For his part, Mr. Ricardo Monegro, DOLE Capiz director, encouraged them to extend this livelihood opportunity to the rest of the community, also requesting them to consider local employment and not overseas employment, a sentiment shared by TESDA Capiz Director Victor Gallego who enjoined them to be grateful for the opportunity for livelihood.
Monegro assured the audience that the DOLE services are constantly made available for the benefit of the communities. Gallego likewise pointed out that the opportunity can help the beneficiary in many ways. He can start a livelihood or engage in full-time business, which can give him more opportunities for employment and personal growth.
 |
| Barangay councilor Nenita Lacuarta speaks in behalf of the recipients. |
Speaking in behalf of the recipients, Ms. Nenita Lacuarta, barangay councilor of Bula, Mambusao, Capiz expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to them.
Fifty-two-year-old Feliciano Albor of Talon, Roxas City who has been welding for 45 years, said will have yet to start to build a welding shop in a conspicuous spot in the downtown area of his barangay next year. Albor said that once he is able to source out capital for this purpose, he plans to employ two assistants for the said business.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Rosalinda Bautista of Milibili, Roxas City, who received the kit in his son’s behalf, said she will ask her son to come back to Roxas City to start his business. Her son Sandro Jose Bautista who was in Manila at the time finished the SMAW course under the MTS project.
The welding starter kit consisted of one unit welding machine, one set of hacksaw handle with blade, one piece of locking pliers (vise-grips); one piece of welding rod handle (300 amp capacity) and 2 pieces of #4/0 AWG welding cables.
Other personalities in the awarding ceremony included Panit-an Mayor Katherine Belo and Esperidion Pelaez who represented Gov. Victor Tanco of the province of Capiz; CapSU Roxas Administrator Editha Alfon; CapSU Extension Director Raul Ticar; and MTS Project Coordinator Emmanuel Perez.
 |
| The welding starter kits awarded are designed to equip the beneficiaries the necessary means to provide livelihood and allow for business or employment opportunities. |
