Australia renews ties with Banilad development center

(The Freeman) Updated March 23, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to assist the development needs of the Philippines by renewing its financial support to the Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD).

Through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Australian government pledged to continue its financial support to BCPD aimed at doubling the capacity of the institution, which implements a poverty-alleviation program for young women of low-income families.

BCPD provides these women with technical and vocational training, industry experience and employment through the help of AusAID’s NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith, during the recent appreciation event, reassures BCPD of continued support stressing that the Australian government will remain a strong partner of the Philippines.

Smith said the Australian government is the country’s second largest grant provider with an average annual fund budget worth P4 billion earmarked for development assistance including educational support, economic reforms, governance, assistance in infrastructure, and programs that collaborate with communities, NGOs and industries.

“The Australian government wants to reach communities and contribute to the development of these communities. We hope that through our support, we will be able to assist those who need assistance and prop up the people from disadvantaged communities,” said Smith.

Smith noted the great achievement of BCPD in achieving its goals of providing technical-vocational training to deserving students.

“BCPD is an example of an effective project that showcases the partnership between governments, NGOs and the private sector. They provide 100 percent stroke rate in employment for their students and they contribute to the development of the tourism industry in the country as a whole,” said Smith.

He said that the Philippines’ tourism potential is very strong and as a staff-resourced intensive industry, it needs to provide support and training to its stakeholders and BCPD is able to help in the endeavour of creating an internationally competitive industry through supplying quality and trained students into the industry.

In 2005, Reledev Australia Limited, an Australian registered NGO partnered with ANCP funding which enabled BCPD to develop its competency-based training (CBT) for the skills needed in the hotel and restaurant services in Cebu’s booming tourism sector.

ANCP has been funding the program for four years already enabling the institution to provide training for some 300 young women from Cebu and neighbouring provinces, said BCPD director Mary Anne Ruiz.

BCPD started in 1990 offering general informal training programs such as cooking, sewing and home-related services.

Now, the institution now teaches six areas of competencies which include: bartending, housekeeping, commercial cooking, front office, baking and food and beverage services which are demanded by the hospitality industry.

During the same event, the Department of Tourism, though DOT chief Joseph Ace Durano, also pledged support to BCPD by handing P2 million to enable the institution to accommodate more students at the same time 20 new grants were also given to replace the 20 scholarships that were given last year. — Rhia de Pablo