THE Victorias Milling Company Inc. (VMC) has inked two partnership agreements with Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) for the latter's students taking Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to undergo in-plant training.
Through the partnership, the school is also given access to heavy equipment for the training of students enrolled in Heavy Equipment Operation courses.
The two memorandum of agreements (MOAs) were signed by president and chief operating officer Minnie Chua and chief finance officer Kristine Cabuguason for VMC and technical director Fr. Cyril Cardinal and Lector Fr. Eli Santos for DBTI.
The ceremony attended by VMC officials and Don Bosco teachers was held at the Victorias Golf and Country Club in Victorias City on Monday.
Chua said Don Bosco has been a valuable partner of VMC for almost eight decades now, since it was first established in 1941.
"The company is particularly drawn to the school's noble purpose of providing quality technical education for underprivileged youth for gainful employment and eventually, a chance to live a quality life," she added.
For Cardinal, the partnership is a realization of a "dream" for the training center since its inception in 2003.
"This partnership benefits both VMC and DBTI as they uplift the lives of poverty-stricken out-of-school youths of Victorias and transforming them to the ideals of St. John Bosco, that is, making these young people honest Christians and honest citizens," he added.
Under the skills training agreement, VMC will take charge of mentoring the students on technical skills and proper work values.
Also, the company will provide them the necessary tools and materials during the training.
"All of these materials are listed under the training plan that was jointly worked out by VMC and DBTI," it added.
Moreover, VMC will cover the students' insurance policy during their in-plant training and provide them with training allowance.
The other agreement covers the use of heavy equipment owned by VMC.
This is for the use of DBTI students who are enrolled in Heavy Equipment Operation, a specialized course offered by the school.
DTBI is registered as a Technical Vocational Institution under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) program of the government.
"As Don Bosco does its part in helping the out-of-school youth in the country, so will we, by continuing the journey of these students towards learning and opportunity and we are here today to solidify our commitment through these agreements," Chua noted. (PR)