Number of enrollees in vocational courses up

CEBU, Philippines - Enrollment in the Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP) SKILLS Training Center in Mandaue City has increased.

 Evangeline Manalili, officer in charge of EDP said the increase is attributed to the demand from local companies and available work abroad.

During the recent food, product exhibit, and decorating contest organized by the graduating students and management of the training center, Manalili said there was time when enrollment in Industrial Sewing Machine was zero but last year's number of enrollees numbered 350.

Companies from Mactan Export Processing Zone, particularly the Metro Ware, a garments factory, have given the graduates of the center priority in hiring.

Among the three-month courses offered by the center are Culinary Arts, Cake Decorating, Meat Processing, Industrial Sewing Machine Operating, Draperies and Curtain, Automotive, Dress Making, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Computer Literacy and Cosmetology.

The skills training is free, however, each has to spend P500 for the two sets of uniform, one year insurance, identification card, and certificate.

Some 230 students for this batch are scheduled to have their graduation ceremony on March 19, at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Of the short courses, food and meat processing has the most number of enrollees at 32, followed by industrial sewing, 28, automotive, 26, culinary arts, 23, and cake decorating, 21, among others. – (FREEMAN)