Caltex TOOLS addresses growing demand for skilled scaffolders

TOOLS Partners: From left, seated: American Chamber Foundation Philippines Inc. president Edwin Feist, Chevron Philippines Inc. general manager for Philippine Products Peter Morris, Hinch Tech president Barny Hinch and CPI HR manager Ramon Ortiz. Standing as witness: ACF treasurer Robert Sears and Hinch Tech IT manager Dinky Crys Vinarao.

 Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, has a new demand-driven skills training program with a job placement component in its host community of San Pascual, Batangas. Appropriately called Caltex TOOLS (Training in Occupational Opportunities for Life Skills), the pioneer project of this program addresses the gap between supply and demand both here and abroad for highly-skilled scaffolders by providing free technical and values training to qualified disadvantaged youths.

TOOLS was borne out of the partnership between CPI, Hinch Tech and the American Chamber Foundation Philippines Inc. (ACF) that all saw the need for livelihood in the community and the mismatch between job needs from industrial employers versus available skills in the job market. With a glut of training on welding and automotive mechanics, the TOOLs project partners decided to focus on a livelihood training that offers higher pay for its beneficiaries.

Scaffolding installation is classified as a high-risk specialized occupation in other countries, hence, the high demand for certified workers in the global labor market. “As a highly specialized skill, scaffolding has great industry demand, making it a career with high return of investment and potential income.” said Mr. Barny Hinch, president of Hinch Tech

Hinch Tech, one of the leading technical schools in the country, boasts of trainers with international accreditations such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certification and the CompEx (Competency for Explosion Proof Materials) license. “Since we launched Hinch Tech in 2014, we had a total of 100 graduates to date of which 10% has acquired CompEx license. This is an impressive record in this highly specialized industry. Our successful deployment of highly-skilled technical manpower here and abroad is the result of our school’s world class training facility, complete with simulated work sites, training rooms and even accommodation for our out–of-town trainees,” added Hinch.

CPI country chairman Peter Morris added that since scaffolding is a high risk job, the training will highlight global standards in safety – a core value of Chevron. “We wanted to give more value to our graduates. Today, it is not enough to give basic training. There is a need to match the technical and vocational skills of the people with the demand of the clients and the global standard in safety which is not being met by the quality of the available manpower.”

As the training will be situated in an industry hub, Caltex TOOLS targets at least 100% of its graduates employed within six months following the completion of the course. San Pascual municipality, where Hinch Tech is located, and adjacent Batangas City are home to vibrant shipping, energy, and transport industries where TOOLS graduates can readily ply their trade.

More unique components of Caltex TOOLS are the job tracking and values training such as financial management and work ethics courses offered by ACF to ensure a more well-rounded development for the trainees. “There’s a scarcity of people with technical training. The advantage of Caltex TOOLS is that graduates get jobs straightaway, local or international. The support for Caltex TOOLS means that these students are able to graduate faster, earn more money and contribute to the society quicker”, added ACF president Edwin Feist.

The Caltex TOOLS program is one of the undertakings of Chevron’s Energy for Learning Initiative which supports projects that provide learning and skills to the disadvantaged.

Caltex Fuel Your School boosts STEM learning

In anticipation of the needs of incoming Grades 11 and 12 in 2016 for public schools, Caltex is helping thousands of public high school students in Metro Manila see their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects come alive through the Caltex Fuel Your School (FYS) program launched in Caltex Mabini station.

“From June 15 to July 15, 2015, we will donate one peso (P1) for every 4-liter fuel purchase made by motorists at participating Caltex stations in Metro Manila. We aim to hit P5 million in this campaign month. The donation will then be turned over to our project partner American Chamber Foundation of the Philippines (ACFP) that is tasked to qualify submitted project proposals as well as the purchase of qualified STEM classroom projects,” announced Peter Morris, country chairman of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI).

On the other hand, the Department of Education of the Philippines as FYS project partner shortlisted the 33 highest-need public senior high schools in Metro Manila as beneficiaries qualified to receive a maximum of P150,000 per school in STEM classroom materials.

“Caltex Fuel Your School strongly reflects our company’s continued commitment to education. I believe if you take a combination of quality school equipment, passionate teachers, and motivated students, that’s when education becomes very powerful. Through this project, we hope to further empower the teachers and spur the students’ interest to help them excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” adds Raissa Bautista, CPI manager for Policy, Government & Public Affairs.

“This program is a most welcome partnership with Caltex considering that the Philippines is about to implement the senior high school program next year where STEM is given equal importance along with other tracks. The donation answers our need for additional equipment to give adequate training and preparation to our students,” said DepEd Regional Director for NCR Luz Almeda.

FYS project partners estimate that at least 700 teachers and 9,000 students from the senior-ready public schools will benefit from the FYS program.

Aside from supporting the program via fueling at Caltex, the FYS partners also invite the public to help the schools by viewing and liking their favorite schools’ qualified projects as posted on the Caltex Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines or via www.caltexfuelyourschoolph.com . The FYS leaderboard in the website will be regularly updated to reflect ranking of the projects that generated the most to least likes. Projects will be funded in the order of their July 15 leaderboard rank. The top three projects with the most number of fan likes at the end of the FYS campaign will each receive an additional brand new laptop as bonus prize.

The program also encourages social media users to help the schools get their STEM wish list by promoting their projects online. Chevron, for instance, has an ongoing FYS awareness volunteer campaign among its employees, retailers and other business partners by urging them to create selfies and groupies using FYS props and posting them as their Facebook profile photos during the FYS campaign period and sending the FYS PH link so their own FB friends can also vote.

Orphans play traditional Pinoy games with Chevron volunteers

Photo above shows two Nayon kids trying to outsmart their ate and kuya (elder siblings) in Patintero, the popular Filipino game version of Tag

 

In one afternoon, 50 orphans at Nayon ng Kabataan Center dashed, jumped, and played Pinoy games with volunteers from Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex fuel and lubricants. This play therapy intended to create a play-based environment to help the kids build their mental, emotional, and social skills.

“I’ve truly felt the love and care of my Ates and Kuyas with their hugs. I have always wanted to see and play with them again, I’m so happy to see them back, ” said 11 year old Elvira, one of the orphans who played with the previous batch of Chevron volunteers who visited the center last year.

The event was part of CPI’s Week of Caring, a yearly volunteerism program where Chevron employees and their business partners engage in diverse activities that benefit disadvantaged communities.

Orphans play traditional Pinoy games with Chevron volunteers

Photo above shows two Nayon kids trying to outsmart their ate and kuya (elder siblings) in Patintero, the popular Filipino game version of Tag

 

In one afternoon, 50 orphans at Nayon ng Kabataan Center dashed, jumped, and played Pinoy games with volunteers from Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex fuel and lubricants. This play therapy intended to create a play-based environment to help the kids build their mental, emotional, and social skills.

“I’ve truly felt the love and care of my Ates and Kuyas with their hugs. I have always wanted to see and play with them again, I’m so happy to see them back, ” said 11 year old Elvira, one of the orphans who played with the previous batch of Chevron volunteers who visited the center last year.

The event was part of CPI’s Week of Caring, a yearly volunteerism program where Chevron employees and their business partners engage in diverse activities that benefit disadvantaged communities.

More fuel, more chow in Caltex-Chowking promo

The journey just got way happier for motorists who will fuel up starting July 15 to September 30, 2014 at any Caltex station. Aside from getting maximized power, improved fuel economy, lower emission, smoother drive and reliable performance in every Caltex with Techron fuel purchase, Caltex customers can also enjoy a free Chowking Halo-halo, Chinese-Style Fried chicken, Pork Siomai Chow Fan and more.

Motorists can get free Chowking food items for every single or accumulated fuel transaction worth P 2,500 using their locally issued credit and debit cards, cash, StarCash or StarCard. A maximum of five combined receipts from one Caltex station can be exchanged for a single food coupon. Exchange period is until November 30, 2014. Promo coupons are valid for one year from date of issuance and can be presented to all Chowking branches nationwide.

Caltex customers with Happyplüs cards can also avail of the promo and earn points at the same time to grab more free meals at any Chowking, Jollibee, Greenwich and Red Ribbon store. To become a Happyplüs member, membership kits are available for only P100.00 in Caltex stations and any branch of the four fast food chains.

Caltex-Chowking Fuel for Chow is part of a promotional campaign introduced by industry giants Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex fuel and lubricants, and Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), owner of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich and Red Ribbon brands. CPI and JFC kick-started the campaign with the Free Jollibee treats promo last year followed by the Happyplüs loyalty program launch last summer.

Per DTI-NCR Permit No 5254, Series of 2014. See flyers for more details or visit www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines for updates on other Caltex promos and activities.