PROJECTS



PROJECT  PROPOSAL

I.     Project Title      :  PHILIPPINE MANPOWER OPTIMIZATION SCHEME                                                                                     

II.    Proponent         :  Asian Welding Federation

III.   Implementing Organization  :  Philippine Welding Society

IV.  Coordinating Organization    :  Singapore Welding Society

                                                                Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

                                                                Metals Industry Research and Development Center

                                                                Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc.

V.   Rationale and Significance of the Project:

 Welding cuts across all industries.  It is widely used in various sectors, such as in oil and gas refineries, LNG, power generation, petrochemicals, offshore oil rig-drilling, maritime, shipbuilding, cement, mining, quarrying and earthmoving, telecommunications, infrastructures, transportation, automotive, aviation and aerospace, railroads, foundries, smelters, steel mills. agriculture, food and beverage,  construction, manufacturing, fabrication, plant and machinery maintenance, and other industries.

 Based on industry studies, there are more than 500,000 Filipino Welders working overseas in various heavy construction, fabrication, maintenance, production and operations, at any given time, for so many years.  And this figure keeps on growing.  The Philippines, now, may be considered as the world’s major source of overseas skilled Welders.   

In  view of the contribution of the welding  industry  in  the  development  of  the Philippine    economy,  there is an enormous manpower demand for Welders,  both  for overseas  and  local employment.  The situation has always been, demand  far  out-surpasses supply  for skilled Welders.

        New   Welders, especially out -of -school youths,  need  to  be  trained,   to  provide  them the  necessary  skills  for  gainfull  employment,    to   serve  increasing  demands  and   to continually  replace  skilled Welders retiring  from  the pool.  

        The  skills  of experienced Welders have to be enhanced for more advanced expertise  so  these  Welders  can attain  greater financial  advancement in  a  more  highly  specialized  Welding field.

        A  scheme is necessary to keep track of the progress of the pool of  Welders so  they  can be  assisted  to  continually  seek  advancement,  and, importantly,  to  ensure  that  these Welders  training and certifications do meet International and Regional  requirements  and

        Standards,   similar   to  the  European  International  Welders  Passport.    The  proposed National Registry of Welders can address these needs.

There is also a need to develop a Welding Center to keep abreast of the new development in the science and technology of Welding.

 It is the vision of the Philippine Welding Society, under the auspices of the Singapore Welding Society, in particular, and the Asian Welding Federation, in general,  and under the guidance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Metals Industry and Development Center, to be at the forefront of all these endeavors.