Rina R. Dolina, Acting Department Manager of the NEA-EC Training Institute (NETI), formally congratulated the 32 trainees of the Electric Power Line Distribution Construction (EPDLC) course during its opening ceremony.
Serving as the guest speaker, Dolina emphasized the weight of their future roles, calling them the “future pag-asa” (hope) of Benguet. “You carry the responsibility of restoring power and keeping the lights on for our community,” she stated in her inspirational message.
The program, a TESDA-based curriculum, is far more than just physical labor. NEA-accredited trainer Jason Wayet clarified that the 336-hour course is a rigorous, NEA-approved program designed to transform participants into elite lineworkers. It replaces the “school of hard knocks” with international safety standards, combining weekly academic quizzes with grueling physical training.
“This is not just about muscle or tightening bolts,” Wayet said. “It is about specialized skills and stamina that are in high demand both here and abroad.
The training represents a significant investment in human resources. BENECO Board Chairperson Engr. Claudio Calugan highlighted that this rare Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavor is being offered free of charge—a program that typically costs ₱30,000 elsewhere. “Your safety as future lineworkers is very important,” Engr. Calugan told the trainees, noting the full support of the Board of Directors.
The trainees were also challenged to make history. Assistant General Manager Artemio Bacoco encouraged the group in his welcome message to “study hard, stay committed, and take pride in being the future workforce that powers our nation.” With instructors teaching from the tops of poles rather than from the ground, the pressure is on the participants to excel.
Wayet issued a final challenge to the group: to become the first batch in 22 years to have all 32 trainees graduate and receive certificates officially signed by the NEA Administrator. A BENECO homegrown lineman who rose through the ranks and later served as Safety Officer prior to his resignation after the pandemic, Wayet—now an accredited NEA-TESDA trainer—recalled that previous batches of basic linemen trainees trained under rough conditions, using only tents in the mountains of Benguet.