BIZ BUZZ: Inclusion takes flight at Cebu Pacific
Even in challenging times, Philippine carriers are finding ways to invest in initiatives that matter. Take Cebu Pacific, for example.
The Gokongwei-led carrier recently partnered with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to offer internship opportunities for deaf students, in what the school described as the first major airline in the country to welcome deaf student interns into its operations.
This partnership was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed between Cebu Pacific and the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS).
Under the airline’s Find the Leader in Youinternship program, three SDEAS students from the Business Service Outsourcing Management Track are currently undergoing on-the-job training alongside hearing interns from various colleges and universities.
These interns started the program in June and are expected to complete 360 hours of training by August. Assigned to Cebu Pacific’s cabin operations team, they are gaining firsthand exposure to the airline’s day-to-day operations.
“For some young deaf students, just like their hearing peers, they dream of working in the aviation industry. However, this dream may seem far-fetched,” SDEAS dean Marian Francisco said “Through this partnership, they are taking a step towards their dreams.”
To help ensure a supportive learning environment, SDEAS also conducted Deaf awareness sessions for Cebu Pacific employees before the internship began.
As a country that relies heavily on tourism and connectivity, the Philippines will need a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. And while Cebu Pacific’s initiative involves only three interns today, it could help open the door for many more tomorrow.
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