“Hindi ako janitor lang”: USM Utility Workers attend Housekeeping, Personality Development Training

The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) University Quality Assurance Center (UQAC) in coordination with the Human Resource Development and Management Office (HRDMO) launched a ‘Housekeeping and Personality Development Training’ for utility workers on February 6 to 7, 2024, at the Skyroom, Administration Building, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato.

With the primary objective of enhancing the professional capabilities of utility workers and recognizing the importance of interpersonal skills, work ethics, and a positive attitude, the training capacitated sixty-three utility workers. The expected outcomes include improved standards in housekeeping services and the development of well-rounded individuals who positively contribute to the university community.

During the training, invited speakers from the Department of Hospitality Management, College of Human Ecology and Food Sciences (CHEFS), Assistant Professor Shirl Mae M. Bebit, an accredited trainer by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Associate Professor Apple R. Ureta, led the sessions.

Asst. Prof. Bebit underscored the significance of housekeeping, particularly in academic settings. She explored various topics, including cleaning techniques, safety procedures, waste management, equipment maintenance, and proper hygiene and sanitation. She also organized demonstrations for the utility workers to illustrate the appropriate use of cleaning equipment, tools, and cleaning agents. Further, in addressing the technical and practical aspects of housekeeping in workplaces, she shared insights from the narratives of utility workers, emphasizing the value of their experiences in enhancing their skills.

In a discussion, utility workers shared experiences, identified challenges, and formulated recommendations to address various issues, aiming to streamline operations and enhance overall performance.

Conversely, Prof. Ureta focused on personality development, covering topics on communication, time management, problem-solving, teamwork, health and safety, customer service, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and stress management. She stressed the pivotal roles of utility workers in shaping the university image and fostering a positive impression among visitors, “𝘼𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜 ‘𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜’. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙐𝙎𝙈. 𝙉𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝙥𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤. 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙥𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙎, 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤 𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙖. 𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙠𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙖𝙣𝙤 𝙠𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮.”

In an interview, Jeanny Fe Molina, caretaker of USM Guest House, expressed gratitude for the training, acknowledging its role in improving their cleaning practices, “…𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙠𝙤, 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙞, 𝙙𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙖-𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 ‘𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣. 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙤 𝙨𝙖 𝙐𝙎𝙈 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙡𝙖𝙡𝙤 𝙣𝙖 𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣.”

Datu Joel S. Sultan, a utility worker at USMARDC, highlighted the significance of effective communication and proper cleaning techniques learned during the training, pointing out the importance of professionalism and gratitude for the opportunity to learn and improve their skills. “𝙎𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜, 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙮𝙖 𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙣𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙞 𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖 𝙞𝙩𝙤. 𝙉𝙖𝙨𝙖 𝙐𝙎𝙈 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙞, 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤, 𝙠𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙝𝙤, 𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙜-𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙥 𝙨𝙖 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖,” he stated.

In his closing message, Dr. Lawrence Anthony U. Dollente, the director of UQAC, expressed appreciation to the utility workers of the University who attended the training sessions for their personal development. He assured them of his commitment to facilitate requests for them to perform well in their jobs.