Dualtech Center and Lao Foundation wrap up partnership and advocacy meetings in Bohol and Cebu

Dualtech Center, together with representatives of Lao Foundation, completed a series of activities, meetings, and partnership talks in Cebu and Bohol. The visits also coincided with filming interviews with key people to prepare for a documentary on the experience in Dualtech of alumnus and LFI scholar, Alvin Bongcaras.

Most of the meetings and consultations consisted of consultations with key officials in the local government and Department of Education (Deped). In Cebu, Dualtech and Lao Foundation visited Deped Cebu’s Region VII Office and the Provincial Office. Dr. Roland Villegas, DepEd Region VII – TVL Supervisor shared updates to the senior high learners program and ALS (Deped’s Alternative Learning System) equivalency track. He pointed out Negros Oriental and Siquijor as possible areas of priority for the Dualtech program.

One of the highlights of the trip was a meeting at the Deped Cebu Province office with the Superintendent, Dr. Marilyn Andales together with ALS mobile teachers and coordinators. They shared the success stories of some 50 Cebu scholars who completed their studies at Dualtech.

The group also visited Banilad Center and toured its training facilities designed for hospitality courses. Also guided by the dual training system like Dualtech Center, Banilad mentors and guides scholars for eventual employment to its partner companies like hotels, restaurants and tourism-related establishments.

Dualtech and Lao Foundation representatives also met Marvin Dalan, an ALS completer in Cebu. Marvin’s story, in some ways just similar to that of Alvin, is important since many disadvantaged youth can empathize and draw inspiration from him. Orphaned at an early age, he already had to earn a living while still going to school, and at some point he had to quit school. Finally, after being convinced to go back to studying, he completed the Alternative Learning System and now a Dualtech trainee in Allegro Beverage at the age of 27.

Marvin is a scholar under ALS – Education and Skills Training or ALS-EST. This non-formal education program integrates a skills training component into the standard academic ALS Curriculum. Through its partnership with Dualtech Center, ALS-EST scholars are given opportunities to get actual training in Electromechanics Technology and company exposure in one of its industry partners.

Bohol is an important area for this year as some partners are not just optimistic about employment, but people from the province show noteworthy work ethic.

ANTEQUERRA, Bohol is home to a good number of Dualtech Alumni. Bohol’s DepEd ALS Coordinator and local officials, led by Antequerra Mayor Jose Pahung in his office, met the Dualtech and Lao Foundation.

Deped ALS Coordinator introduced to the mayor some Dualtech alumni from the area. Among them is Celso Aguaviva, now a Service Engineer, Rulan Calipes who is with Unilab, and the Tabaranza brothers who are all employed.

ANDA is the hometown of recent Dualtech alumni like Mark Kevin Lumacang, and Junnel Amplayo who joined DepEd Anda Bohol in welcoming Dualtech and Lao Foundation. Meeting the Mayor, Hon. Angelina Simaco and Public School District Supervisor, Urbano Bersanor were excellent opportunities to share updates and feedback about studying in Dualtech.

In a gathering, Mark shared his story to the incoming Dualtech scholars. Also initially struggling with studies, and skipping school, he eventually enrolled in Dualtech. With his experiences and gritty approach to hurdles, he can be considered as having travelled a familiar path many youngsters nationwide need to look into. Mark, the former class truant, is presently looking forward to keeping in close touch once he is sent to Japan by his employer soon for further training.

DepEd Anda Bohol also called a parent of a Dualtech graduate to give a testimony of the training of his son in Dualtech. Alfonso Castillo II, father of Jesshal, came to know about Dualtech via an ALS teacher who recommended Jessahl. The memories of saving money from roasting “lechon” for enrollment, saving allowances for in-plant training… are now long past. The long months have indeed paid off as Jessahl is now a regular employee, from being a scholar of Toyota Sweden at Handling Innovation as well.

Summing up his testimonial, Manong Alfonso attested to the Dualtech “difference,” as he affirmed how his son has been molded for the better. It was after hearing his talk that Mayor of Anda, Bohol committed to giving more support for Dualtech trainees.

During a forum, LFI presented its ZEP2030 program in partnership with Dualtech. Deped took time to print huge tarpaulins of 6 Anda Bohol-Dualtech graduates who are all employed in their respective sponsoring companies.

Home visits and meetings with parents were done in Bohol. In the visit of a team from Dualtech and Lao Foundation, parents and Deped officials were oriented once more of the Dualtech training system, and among others, what guidelines are in place in the accredited boarding houses for students to facilitate learning.

At the height of the pandemic, DepEd Loon Bohol holds the distinction of still managing to send trainees despite the quarantines and difficulties brought about by the pandemic. Thus many families thanked the school and various donors as their children were presently employed.

The ZEP 2030 Bohol Cluster also met Dualtech Center and Lao Foundation to discuss future collaboration. ZEP2030 started out in the country as a response to the United Nations’ Call for Solidarity in 2015, the Year of the Poor. Since then, it is now a large group which counts as its members many leaders in civic society and in business. Now, Dualtech and the Lao Foundation are looking into working with ZEP2030 (Bohol Cluster) specifically to discuss education and skills training program for young Boholanos.

ZEP2030 has identified Bohol as a target area since 2019, which is significant as the province is still recovering from typhoons and the impact of the pandemic. Its youth continue to inspire especially with their work ethic, as shown through feedback from industry partners over the months.

Other highlights of the trip include Deped Bohol Province and DepEd Tagbilaran City renewing a partnership with Dualtech and the successful interviews as part of Alvin Bongcaras’ story.

Alvin, a Lao Foundation scholar, whose story will provide material for a feature presentation had to overcome the struggle of staying in school, but through ALS and then Dualtech, he was convinced never to waste the opportunity to be ready for work.

A familiar refrain throughout most of the meetings is that Dualtech fills a need in the community, so much so that the pandemic was in no way an obstacle for young Boholanos to leave the province to start studying in-campus and training in-plant. However, this is just one aspect of working with Boholanos. Some industry partners actually compliment the young people’s work ethic. The Lao Foundation is especially forecasting an increase in trainees being regularized for employment.