Upgrading workforce skills to boost construction sector

CEBU, Philippines - Major stakeholders in the construction industry expressed optimism on the phenomenal growth in Cebu but acknowledged areas of improvement to sustain its advancement.

This was during the formal opening of the region’s largest construction show yesterday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug.

Philconstruct Visayas 2012 is a three-day event from September 6 to 8 jointly organized by the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc. (PCA) and Cebu Contractors Association, Inc. (CCA).

PCA President Augusto Manalo noted that Cebu has posted phenomenal growth, estimating around 5 to 10 percent increase from last year.

Evident to such, he added, are the different national infrastructure projects laid out for the region and project developments initiated and conducted by various business players.

Amid the progress in the industry, he also cited that construction stakeholders should be able to focus on working out in their predicaments on areas of manpower and skills training.

He said that it would lead to further improvement if the industry is capable of upgrading the skills of its workforce and retrieve its workers from outside the country.

CCA President Peter Paul Dy, on the other hand, expressed confidence that the growth of infrastructure in Cebu at present will increase to 20% in the coming years.

However, he noted that the industry should bank on educating the public with more knowledge on construction materials.

“Cebu is doing good with its slips and bounces. The construction industry is the prime mover of the national economy and it’s going to be growing. But we need more awareness,” he told The FREEMAN.

Philconstruct Visayas 2012 is also considered as the 3rd Visayas International Construction Equipment, Building Materials, Interior and Exterior Products Exhibition and Technology Forum.

Manalo said that the event is intended to echo the national vision in promoting new technologies to be made available to industry players and uplift their technological capacities while ensuring efficiency on cost, time and quality.

He even challenged CCA to put up a convention center that could host bigger trade fairs for the industry taking into account the phenomenal growth in the province.

PCA First Vice President and Overall Event Chairman Gerardo Pancho described the exposition as the only trade show of global opportunities that could cater to the needs of clients provided with a comprehensive line-up of innovative products and services in the industry.

Event Chairman Bernard Vonn Sia also said that the exhibit area has grown from 2000 square meters in 2011 to 2900 square meters this year with more than 150 companies occupying the space available.

He further revealed in advance that the event organizers already plan to conduct the 2013 exposition on June 6 to 8 along with the Cebu Business Month celebration of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“This is the true industry event made by the construction industry. Together, let’s move towards new heights for the industry,” he said.

The exposition also incorporates the Water Technology Cebu 2012 and HVAC/R Visayas that is organized by the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigerating Engineers Inc.,

Moreover, it features Tablescapes which is a competition staged by the Cebu Chapter of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers and the Architects Pavilion that is a collaborative effort of the United Architects of the Philippines among seven local chapters such as Cebu, Sugbu, Lapu-Lapu, Rajah Humabon, Leon Kilat, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran.

Event organizers encouraged contractors, architects, engineers, interior designers, property developers, specifiers, consultants and end-users to witness Philconstruct Visayas 2012. (FREEMAN)