Japan firms bring jobs to Negrenses Carla Gomez Inquirer Visayas
November 08, 2009
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Twenty two executives of Japanese firms are in Negros Occidental to look into bringing more Negrenses to Japan under an ongoing train-and-earn livelihood program.
The program is being implemented by the Negros Japan-Human Resource Exchange Association Inc. (NJ-HREA) in partnership with the Multi Contractors Cooperative (Marucon) in Japan and the Philippine-Japan Technical Skills Association Inc. (PJ-TSDAI).
Leading the Japanese delegation in Negros are Toshiki Koyama, Marucon secretary general; Kunimori Saito, Marucon consultant; and Yoshitaka Kukuminato, PJ-TSDAI president.
“The improved Japanese economy will allow us to accept more trainees; we hope to bring about 150 more next year,” Saito said at a welcome dinner for the Japanese delegation at Grand Regal Hotel in Bacolod City Saturday night.
He said the income of the trainees, who will mainly work in construction companies in Japan as welders, masons and carpenters, also infuses millions of pesos into the Negros economy, so they not only learn new skills but are also able to improve the lives of their families and help their province.
Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco thanked the Japanese delegation for fostering friendship and the train-and-earn livelihood program that has already benefited hundreds of Negrenses.
He also thanked the Japanese for sharing with the Filipino people their construction technology and work ethic.
“We wish for the continued success of our partnership,” he told the Japanese delegation.
Roberto Montelibano, NJ-HREA and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, said the program enables Negrense trainees to learn the Japanese work ethic that inculcates in them that with hard work they can succeed.
