Demonstrating its commitment to providing growth and equal employment opportunities, Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) helped in the certification of some of its women employees as hydraulic excavator operators.

The 35 female employees were certified after they completed the training and assessment for Hydraulic Excavator Operation conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) at TMC’s Training and Assessment Center last November 23 to December 12, 2022.

The women, composed of female community members and employees from TMC and its service providers — HR Daily Bread, Inc., MTEL and MIZPEH — availed themselves of the 10-day training and 240 hour on-the-job training at TMC.

Following the assessment done by TESDA last March 15 to 28, results showed that 100 percent of the trainees were competent and are now National Certificate II holders for Heavy Equipment Operation--Hydraulic Excavator.

Among the trainees is TMC’s Training Section Head, Richel Macatual, who has been with TMC for the past 25 years. She joined HR Training Section last August 2022.

Macatual recalls TMC’s Resident Mine Manager, Engr. Artemio Valeroso, encouraging women at the mine site to have bigger ambitions.

“Women employees, like the utilities, the gardeners, the laundry ladies, the cook, etc., should go out of their comfort zone and have an ambition,” she remembers Valeroso telling her and the others. Hence, Macatual’s dream of becoming a TESDA-accredited Trainer and Assessor was hatched.

TMC, being in the mining industry, has a regular demand for competent drivers and operators.

Through its Social Development and Management Program, TMC funds trainings and assessments for its host and neighboring communities.

However, TESDA assessors are high in demand and securing an appointment is a challenge. Having an in-house trainer and assessor is seen to address this problem.

Stippy Ebol, 31, is another trainee who completed the hydraulic excavator operators training. She previously worked as a sampler and is now hired as one of TMC’s heavy equipment operators.

“Sobrang tuwa ko na natapos ko ang training. Marami akong natutunan na maari kong gamitin at maituro sa iba kong kasamahan (I am very happy that I finished the training. I had a lot of learnings which I could use and share to my colleagues),” said Ebol.

More importantly, Ebol is happy about how this opportunity would help her and her family.

“Makakatulong po ito sa aking pamilya na maibigay ko po ang mga pangangailangan nila. Isang malaking tulong po ito upang magamit kong skill sa aking pagtrbaho (This will help my family, that I will be able to provide their needs. This skill is a big help that I could use for work),” she added.

Ebol also shared how she feels to be working alongside men: “Hindi ko maitatangging naninibago ako na kadalasan mga lalaki ang kasama ko sa trabaho. Ang tangi ko nalang iniisip na maisagawa ko nang maayos ang trabaho ko (I do not deny that I am still adjusting with the setup where I mostly work with men. Then I just think of how to do my job well).”

She added: “Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa TMC dahil binigyan nya ng pagkakataon ang mga kababaehan na maipakita ang aming nakatagong kakayahan at kaalaman. Napakswerte ko dahil isa ako sa mga babaeng nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makasali sa kanilang programa (I am very thankful to TMC for the opportunity given to women to showcase our hidden knowledge and skills. I am very lucky that I am one of the women given the opportunity to join their program).”