QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – With the continuous drop of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) declared around 104,000 job opportunities will be offered at the Independence Day job fairs.

In a virtual forum on Wednesday, DOLE Information and Publication Service (IPS) Director Rolly Francia said the job fairs will be held simultaneously in 25 sites nationwide on June 12, with the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan as the main venue.

Francia noted that they expect the number of employment opportunities to increase as the scheduled event draws near.

“We hope that it will increase and can even exceed what we had last May 1 where there were 153,000 available jobs. So there are 104,000 available jobs and apart from private companies, there are also available jobs to be offered for government positions,” Francia said.

According to DOLE about 200 local and overseas employers have expressed willingness to participate in the job fairs.

Local employment opportunities include those in the fields of business process outsourcing, construction, manufacturing, the finance industry, education, health and tourism.

Francia added that vaccination against COVID-19 will be available for the applicants at the various job fair locations, though details have yet to be finalized.

“All job sites will also open free vaccinations for those with booster shots and those without vaccinations. This is an opportunity for our countrymen who are looking for work even those who don't work. You can go to the job fair sites to get vaccinated either primary dose or booster shots,” Francia stressed.

The job fairs are part of the government’s continuing efforts to shorten jobseekers’ search for employment by bringing in one venue companies which are in need of workers. (JAFD/PIA-IDPD)