Opening doors for future construction workers
A joint training program with DSWD expands skills development and job access across CALABARZON
Published Jan 15, 2026 05:06 am
Daisy Zulueta, project development officer, DSWD; Gemma Gabuya, director IV and national program manager, DSWD; Mark Dewey Sergio, managing director, Knauf Academy; and Arch. Charles Ramos, training manager, Knauf Academy
Construction workers are the steady force behind the homes we live in and the skylines we look up to. Now, Knauf—a company specializing in lightweight construction systems and materials—and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are turning policy into action through a joint training program that creates clear pathways for experienced workers upgrading their skills and newcomers entering the industry.
Mark Dewey Sergio, Knauf Gypsum Philippines’ managing director, shared how the company is widening access to construction skills training across the region, saying, “Our main goal is to provide skills training for the region’s construction workers. This will be a community-based training, so we will pick among those who have skills and know a little or are working in the construction industry or those who have experience. But now, with this new partnership with Knauf, anyone 18 and above who wants to learn and develop a skill can be trained.”
The initiative is guided by Republic Act 11310, or the 4Ps Act, the country’s national poverty reduction and human capital development program.
Supporting the program is Knauf Academy, established in June 2022 in Libis, Quezon City, which serves as the company’s training center for gypsum board installation and jointing. It focuses on lightweight construction methods suited to the country’s tropical and earthquake-prone conditions and has trained nearly 848 workers, improving technical skills, work quality, and safety standards while supporting job advancement through linkages with partner contractors.
Sergio said the academy focuses on strengthening technical skills while also improving access to employment opportunities, noting that “Knauf Academy has two main goals. First, we aim to improve the skills of Filipino installers, especially in lightweight construction, to elevate the quality of their work. Second, we want to increase job opportunities. For workers already employed, it’s about gaining new skills that can lead to promotions. For those unemployed, we help them develop the necessary skills and directly connect them with our partner contractors for job placements.”
The company further supports employment through K-Trabaho, a job fair created to connect Knauf Academy graduates with contractors seeking skilled workers. Launched as a bridge between training and hiring, the program has already facilitated direct interviews and placements, including linking 70 trainees to Multi-Development and Construction Corporation during its August run.
Looking ahead, Knauf plans to expand its training programs beyond CALABARZON with the long-term goal of reaching over 45,000 construction workers nationwide. The company will establish new training centers and deploy mobile training vans to improve access in remote areas, strengthening skills development for workers who build homes and communities across the country.