The school buildings and classrooms being constructed in Leyte by the Lopez Group through ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) are built to last. This was the assessment of Undersecretary Danilo Antonio and Director Irwin Baylon of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) when they inspected the school buildings and classrooms of the New Ormoc City National High School (NOCHS) recently.
“I’m very much impressed with the new school buildings and classrooms because they are definitely built to last. Now, the students will never have to worry again about missing their classes and worse, losing their schools due to typhoons.
We commend and thank the Lopez Group for going beyond what is required and assisting OPARR in the rebuilding and rehabilitation of calamity-stricken areas particularly Leyte,” Antonio said.
The new school buildings can withstand wind velocity of 250 kilometers per hour based on the standards set by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Roofing is reinforced using a new method of connecting the galvanized iron sheet to the trestle. The walls are thicker, almost double the old classrooms. Instead of gutters where ripping off of the roof starts, inclined floors with drain canals were constructed. The classrooms have higher ceiling and wider windows for better ventilation, and will also be furnished with electric fans and toilet facilities. Third party experts supported the project: Sy^2 for the structural integrity of the building, W.V. Coscolluela and Casas for building design.
Initially, ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and EDC are jointly building typhoon-resistant classrooms for four schools, namely: the New Ormoc City High School in Ormoc, Milagro Elementary School in Kananga, San Joaquin National High School in Palo, and Matlang Elementary School in Isabel. Other schools will also be assisted after construction of the four pilot schools. Usec. Antonio also lauded EDC’s efforts in training and empowering young Leyteños to help in rebuilding the province.
A total of 91 trainees of the Kananga EDC Institute of Technology (KEITECH), a joint project of EDC, the Municipality of Kananga and TESDA, have completed and passed the institution’s short course construction training. The 91 trainees belong to the first batch of graduates of KEITECH’s new and shorter curriculum on electrical installation and maintenance (EIM), carpentry and plumbing. Of the 91: 39 finished EIM, 27 are new plumbers while 25 completed carpentry. They also have basic competencies in masonry and shielded metal arc welding. All 91 trainees have acquired their National Certification (NC) II from TESDA.
Since its inception in 2009, KEITECH has maintained its 100% passing rate in TESDA’s NCs. KEITECH, which aims to be a world-class technical-vocational training center, introduced the new curriculum which can be completed in three months to address the reconstruction requirements for the province’s rebuilding program. “We are set to produce 1,000 trained workers in two years ready for employment with various local contractors in rebuilding the devastated areas in the province.
As we did with previous graduates, we will facilitate their employment through KEITECH’s placement office,” KEITECH President Paul Aquino said. Aquino added that the graduates will be recommended to the contractors of the school projects of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and EDC. KEITECH has so far produced 530 graduates since 2009, 92% of whom are already employed here and abroad.
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is a pioneer in generating 100% clean, renewable, and reliable power as an electricity supplier in the Philippines for over 40 years. With power plants all over Visayas and Mindanao, the company is one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy in Asia and is expanding its reach in the international market, allowing it to offer customers affordable energy rates. EDC also strives to provide the best customer service it can to all its clients by having helpful salespeople and easy to understand contracts. Because of all of this, it is poised to become the premier supplier of electricity for the Philippines’ Green Energy Option Program. EDC takes its mission as a renewable energy provider seriously and goes beyond sustainability by investing in programs that enhance the environment and empower its partner communities, thereby fostering regenerative development. The company has also been working toward being carbon-neutral by improving its energy efficiency, as well as implementing various greening projects to ensure that its mission to provide future generations with a better life remains intact.
