Watsons and Punlaan School Apprenticeship Program for Pharmacy Assistants Holds Graduation for 1st Batch of Scholars

POSTED BY: Lionell Go Macahilig
2024-08-14 11:34:37 PHT

Leading health and beauty retailer Watsons, in partnership with Punlaan School, held the 1st commencement exercises for the apprenticeship program’s pioneer batch of 20 scholars who have successfully completed a six-month pharmacy assistant apprenticeship program.

The apprenticeship program began with the hopes of Watsons fulfilling their commitment to provide job opportunities for the youth and to address the gap in employing pharmacy assistants. To fill the gap, Watsons entered into a partnership with Punlaan School with the goal of providing underprivileged young women adequate training to be pharmacy assistants, which would provide them with a steady career.

The Watsons-Punlaan School apprenticeship program lasts for six months, including three months of in-school learning and three months of practical application conducted in Watsons stores. Apprentices receive an allowance for the duration of their training , and those who have successfully completed the program are employed by Watsons. The program is also supported through a donation made by Beiersdorf Philippines.

Watsons has set a target of 400 scholars spread across different partner schools,. By November, the partnership aims to reach 434 scholars who have fully accomplished the apprenticeship program.

“As the number of Watsons stores grow all over the country, the more that we are in need of pharmacy assistants to better serve our customers. The Watsons and Punlaan school pharmacy assistant apprenticeship program is not only a pioneer in the health, beauty & wellness industry, but it has also served as an instrument to prepare scholars through effective mentorship. This has transformed the scholars to become effective pharmacy assistants, helping jumpstart the careers of scholars towards a meaningful career path” said Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines during his keynote speech.

“With this pioneer batch of the Watsons and Punlaan school apprenticeship program being a success, we plan to conduct even more programs and expand our partnerships with different organizations inside and outside of Metro Manila. Through this constant effort, we hope to reach more scholars and bring them opportunities towards a better future” said Josie C. Arriola, Director for People Innovations Projects - Watsons Philippines.

“The main highlight of the entire program for me was the bond I have created with my classmates. From the time we started, even when we were all just starting to know one another, it felt like everyone treated each other like a family. My batchmates and I are grateful to be part of this first batch of graduates and to Watsons and Punlaan School for providing us a path to apply our learnings and work towards a great future” said the batch’s top 1 student Princess Bernadette A. Consinsino.

Consinsino encouraged more women to take the chance and to not be afraid of grabbing new opportunities.

“It is an honor and privilege for Beiersdorf to have contributed to this wonderful cause of allowing young women the right resources and path to thrive. As our graduates move forwards, I encourage all of you to always dream big, be comfortable with the uncomfortable, break barriers to create and inclusive society and lastly, to pay it forwards–as the pioneer graduates of the Watsons and Punlaan School apprenticeship program, you pave the way as inspirations for the ones yet to come” says Nimisha Jain, Country Manager - Beiersdorf Philippines.

This program and other efforts geared towards sustainability and the community are some ways in which Watsons, with the help of its customers, continues to uphold its promise to help people look good, do good and feel great.

Shop your health and beauty favorites at over 1,000 Watsons stores nationwide or download the Watsons App for online shopping.

For more information on how to look good, do good, feel great, follow @watsonsph on Instagram, like @WatsonsPH on Facebook, and follow @watsonsphilippines on TikTok.