81 DPWH-BOE heavy equipment operators, engineers pass TESDA assessment

Eighty-one heavy equipment operators and engineers of the Deparment of Public Works and Highways - Bureau of Equipment (DPWH-BOE) have passed the competency assessment conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Develoment Authority (TESDA).

TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong said that this is the result of the 2-day assessment conducted for the heavy equipment operators and engineers of DPWH-BOE nationwide held last July 14-15. It was conducted at the DPWH-BOE, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City where all the applicants passed or equivalent to 100 percent certification rate.

Of the 81 employees who took part in the assessment, 13 of them underwent assessment for two courses.

In the program, nine of them underwent assessment in Heavy Equipment Operation (Backhoe Loader) NC ll; 10 for Heavy Equipment Operation (Forklift) NC ll; 10, Heavy Equipment Operation (Hydraulic Excavation) NC ll; 27, Heavy Equipment Operation (Rigid On-Highway Dump Truck) NC ll; 18, Heavy Equipment Operation (Road Roller) NC ll; and 20, Heavy Equipment Operation (Wheel Loader) NC ll.

Most of the applicants were from DPWH-BOE and Equipment Management Division (EMD) in which 46 employees participated; Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) - 7, Region 11 - 7; Region lVA-5; NCR-4; Region V- 4; Region l-3; Region ll -3; Region Vlll-3; Region lVB-3; Region lll-2; Region Vl-2 Region lX-2; and Region X- 2.

The five assessors that facilitated the assessment came from Region lV-B, CAR, Region lV-A and Region l together with the assistance of five employees from the TESDA Certification Office (CO).

The CO led the coordination with DPWH-BOE and EMD in holding the program as part of the capability-building program for Lead Assessors in various Heavy Equipment Operation (HEO) NC ll qualifications for DPWH personnel nationwide in support of the government's Build, Build, Build (BBB) program.

Mamondiong said that the program is part of the plan to revive and revise the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between TESDA and DPWH signed in 2006. In the new agreement, both agencies will work together to prepare skilled and qualified workers in different construction projects of BBB.

Part of the agreement is to give assessment to the engineers and operators of DPWH so that they can become trainers and assessors for other construction workers.

Mamondiong said that the National TVET Trainers Academy (NTTA) of TESDA is organizing a "crash course" for the Trainers’ Methodology (TM1) to all the assessment passers as a next step to prepare them to become trainers and assessors.

Erris S. Sanciangco of the DPWH cited the importance of assessment to the agency, adding that the lack of TESDA-certified construction equipment operators is one of the causes for the delay in road projects.

Under the MOU, the responsibilities of TESDA will include the training and assessment for BOE Engineers who are qualified to become trainers and assessors for equipment operators (National Certificate for specific Qualification and Trainers Methodology). On the other hand, the DPWH is tasked to provide Motorpool and its network dubbed Base and Area Shops nationwide as practicum and administration venues for expected trainees.

The two agencies will work together in the creation of competency standards, competency-based curriculum, and competency-based learning materials for equipment operators and technicians. (END)