Cebu construction sector banks on young workers

“While there is real concern about good ones leaving the country, we support the growing number of new ones— young workers, in the industry and through giving them appropriate trainings such as this, we can manage the shortage,” said Jardine Distribution, Incorporated’s Regional Sales Manager for Construction Supply Von Barex B. Pacetes in an interview.

Jardine Distribution was among the sponsors of the recently concluded Skills Training Workshop on Carpentry organized by the Cebu Contractors Association, Inc. last Saturday at the Ecotech Center at Sudlon in Brgy. Lahug where Pacetes was among the guest speakers.

In an interview, Pacetes pointed out that skilled workers’ leaving the country has both negative and positive implications for the country. He said that with a number of our skilled workers employed abroad, the country will be left with unskilled ones and so the quality of the country’s infrastructure may be affected. However, the grave demand for our workers in other countries also implicates that Filipinos are known to be the best workers as they are mostly preferred by foreign employers.

“Filipinos are dynamic people. We are considered as one of the best talents particularly in many different arenas. And for sure we will not be short for talents as new ones will start to develop,” Pacetes optimistically stressed. 

He said that through providing young workers with activities that can harness their skills, plus the merging of their fresh ideas to experienced workers in the field, breakthroughs in the construction industry will continue and further improvements will be made.

“The sharing of best practices by veteran workers in the field will enable young breeds to adopt the best methods to succeed in the industry and also in turn their new ideas as well will also make way for further improvements,” he said.

Pacetes also made mention that Cebu has become the center for opportunity for the construction industry these days as many projects are being implemented in the area.

“Cebu these days are our biggest market as there are many on-site projects that are implemented here especially with the strong and active promotion of tourism. With this boom, more people are coming over making it a critical point of destination that trickles down to a need for more hotels, convention centers, and housing.”   

Jardine Distribution is a global manufacturer of solignum products, an anti termite solution applied before construction. It has been in operation for a century already in the international market and 50 years in the Philippines. – Rhia de Pablo