San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has selected 115 promising engineering graduates from various universities in the country to undergo extensive training preparatory to the commercial operation of the Mass Rail Transit (MRT-7) line in 2025.
“MRT-7 promises to be a game-changer for the Philippine transportation landscape, and we are confident our young professionals will set new benchmarks in efficiency, safety, and service excellence,” Ramon S. Ang, SMC president and chief executive, said.
The new graduates — mostly from Polytechnic University of the Philippines’s (PUP) Railway Engineering Program, which is the only specialized program of its kind in the country — have already started their training in the country while 40 cadets who topped evaluation tests were sent to South Korea to train under the nationally owned Korail, also SMC’s partner in the MRT-7 project.
“Investing in the growth, development and well-being of young local talents is part of our commitment to nation-building and ensuring our country’s long-term success and prosperity,” Ang said.
“We want to be able to provide them with the tools they need to enhance their competencies, prepare them for when the MRT-7 starts operating and eventually make meaningful contributions to the wider community. I am confident they will not only shine but also redefine standards,” he added.
Over 500 applicants initially underwent panel interviews and screening for the program. This included an aptitude test for train operators and traffic controllers. The 115 candidates who were cleared began training last March.
SMC tapped South Korea’s KORAIL and the government-run Philippine Railway Institute (PRI) to provide industry-level insights and understanding in train operations and maintenance of its railway cadets who will become skilled train operators and traffic controllers.
KORAIL’s corps of railway professors began classroom lectures in Manila in May, with the entire batch of cadets in attendance. After further performance evaluation, the top 40 cadets were sent to Seoul to continue their training at the KORAIL facility.
This includes hands-on training using a driving simulator, exposure to core technology for driving and operations, railway control systems, first aid and emergency, and familiarization with the railway depot.
Seventy-five other cadets are undergoing a mandatory fundamental training (FT) course of the PRI, the rail transportation research and training center attached to the Department of Transportation.
The FT course provides an industry-level appreciation of railway operations and maintenance and seeks to provide aspiring railway professionals “the opportunity to learn technical skills and fundamental processes, with multiple paths to specialization and advancement within the railway sector.”
Cadets who graduate from the course become certified railway professionals such as train operators, traffic controllers, and maintenance personnel.
