Cement company Holcim Philippines, Inc. will conduct more masonry skills training this year as part of its Mason Program to provide new skills to Filipino workers especially to those affected by the economic crisis that could boost chances for employment both here and abroad.

Despite the financial crisis, there is still huge demand for construction workers overseas, especially Japan, Australia, Guam, and Saudi Arabia. In the Philippines, analysts point to the construction sector as a bright spot amid the crisis, expecting sustained real estate development from the private sector and accelerated infrastructure spending from government.

The ‘galing Mason Program, one of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, teaches masonry skills in an intensive seven-day course. Participants learn the basics of cement, the correct use of masonry tools and equipment, nuances of bonds and joints, and the fundamentals of carpentry, trade mathematics and safety in the workplace.

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