Title: Searching for hope: The story of the BEST Palawan Scholars
Duration: 5.23 minutes
Transcript
[Music plays]
[Caption]
Searching for hope: The story of the BEST Palawan Scholars
[Bayani Bayta, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
I was a farmer back in Palawan. It was very hard. Learned just enough. There was no way to save on what I earned. It was just enough to survive day to day.
[Diesebel Rubi, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
My father worked the rice fields. Sometimes he would be at sea. If my father didn't work extra jobs, there wouldn't be enough money for food.
[Bayani Bayta, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
Of course my dream is to improve my situation, to have a better life. That's all, just a simple dream.
[Voice over]
For many people, Palawan holds few options. The possibilities for a better life are limited. And for those who work, they often find themselves toiling in the fields for just enough pay to get them their next meal.
But with the Malampaya Phases 2 and 3 project, people like Diesebel and Bayani can now image a future beyond rice fields
[Caption]
The Malampaya project
[Voice over]
The Malampaya project which supplies a cleaner source of power, more stable supply of energy delivers up to 45% of Philippines energy requirement. It is currently the largest and most significant industrial endeavour in Philippine history.
Malampaya does more than power the country, it aims to leave a legacy of empowered lives. It invests in the lives of many Philippinos especially in its neighbouring communities in Palawan and Subic.
Priority goes to the out of school youth and the unemployed through its BEST programme where one can develop technical industrial skills such as welding, machining and construction. And as BEST Scholars Diesebel and Bayani gain not only just employment at Malampaya but a lifetime of opportunities as skilled workers.
[Diesebel Rubi, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
If I hadn't become a B.E.S.T Scholar, I would just be sitting at home, maybe have a job for a few months but nothing stable.
[Caption]
The Malampaya HSSE Training Centre
[Jamie Purves, Training Manager, Malampaya HSSE Training Centre]
This was purposely built for this Malampaya project and to do all our training for this whole entire contract and project.
[Voice over]
The Malampaya HSSE Training Centre aims to build the competences of the Malampaya Phase 3 workers in both the fabrication yard and offshore.
It will raise HSSE standards for the local workforce and help enhance their employment opportunities in both local and international oil and gas industries.
[Jamie Purves, Training Manager, Malampaya HSSE Training Centre]
I want the participants to take new knowledge and level of awareness of hazards and HSSE that is at site as well as that they are responsible for safety not only for their own safety but those of that their co-workers as well.
[Neil Burton, Malampaya Phase 2 and 3 HSSE Lead]
At the moment, we are addressing the safety standards and the standards that we require for the project.
In the long term, the facility as it develops could meet the needs of future workers beyond the Philippines.
[Voice over]
In coming years, the Malampaya HSSE Training Centre is expected to develop thousands of new skilled workers for the country even beyond the Malampaya project.
[Diesebel Rubi, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
First and foremost, we learn about personal safety. We need to make our safety and that of our co-workers a priority.
[Bayani Bayta, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
Training here is so important because with a project like Malampaya, it's very complex, there's a lot we need to be cautious about.
[Caption]
Tomorrow re-written
[Bayani Bayta, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
Many things have changed in my life, especially with what I earn now, it's quite good. And personally, I've really learned to value people.
[Diesebel Rubi, B.E.S.T Palawan Scholar]
The skill of welding and doing it safely is my way to a better life. It is a treature that no one can take away.
[Caption]
Hope renewed
