Clockwise from top left: ASSIST managing director Sreenivas Narayanan, executive director Francis Macatulad, EDC AVP and corporate relations and communications division head Atty. Allan Barcena and VP and corporate support functions head Regina PascualEnergy Development Corporation (EDC) collaborated with Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) to help its SIKAT scholars secure a regenerative future by being career-ready.

SIKAT is EDC’s banner education program, while ASSIST is a development organization that specializes in developing solutions that promote resilience to social, economic and environmental challenges.

It will be putting together the “Career Engine” platform, a social initiative with DigiBayanihan, to help young Filipinos become well-versed in in-demand professional skills. An internship tool further enables the students to connect directly to recruiters of partner government units and corporations to kick-start their career.

Nancy Ibuna, head of EDC’s corporate relations department, expressed her excitement for the new partnership that will lead to improvements in the current career placement assistance of SIKAT for its scholars.

“We have been conducting job readiness workshops for our scholars every year since 2015. However, we recognize that we need to innovate and transform. We feel the need to look at the digital platform and other technological advancements,” Ibuna said.

ASSIST managing director Sreenivas Narayanan commended SIKAT and thanked EDC for partnering with them on the project.

“I am very proud to be part of the SIKAT program as a development partner that will bring innovative ideas through technological advancements, build possibilities and open several opportunities for EDC’s scholars,” he stated.

EDC vice president and corporate support functions head Regina Victoria Pascual also expressed her appreciation to ASSIST for taking a big step towards the scholars’ regenerative future.

The virtual MOA signing event was attended by EDC AVP and corporate relations and communications division head Atty. Allan Barcena, ASSIST social actions manager Franz Gabriel Alfonso Raña, business development associate Amelaine Wang and research and acquisitions associate Andrey Chan, and SIKAT scholars from all over the country. (Story/Photos by: Jolly Jamoralin)