SAN FERNANDO CITY, June 12 (PIA) -- A total of 181 successful jobseekers in Region 1 landed employment after participating in the simultaneous job fairs organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in observance of the 124th Philippine Independence Day on June 12.
Some 2,507 registered applicants flocked to the four different venues of the job fairs namely Candon Civic Center in Candon, Ilocos Sur; NEPO Mall in Dagupan City and Don Leopoldo Sison Convention Center in Alaminos City, both in Pangasinan; and the CSI Mall in this city.
Dagupan City has the most number of hired on the spot (HOTS) with 68, followed by San Fernando City (57), Candon City (39), and Alaminos City (17).
In La Union, one of the HOTS was a first-time jobseeker Steven Keith Ibarrientos, 20, from Naguilian town. He was hired as a fast food service crew.
Coming from a low-income household, Ibarrientos explained that after graduating from senior high school, he wanted to work to help support his family financially.
“Thank you DOLE for giving this program to those people who are in need and giving opportunities for work and experience,” he said.
Steven Keith Ibarrientos lands his first job as fast food service crew after participating in the Independence Day job fair at CSI Mall in La Union. (JPD)
Frenalyn Soriano, also a high school graduate from the municipality of Santol, will start her first job as a production bundler to be assigned in Cavite.
Like Ibarrientos, Soriano would put college on pause and pursue her desire to work for her family.
“Mag-iipon po muna ako para sa pang-college ko. Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako sa DOLE dahil sa programa nilang ito, natanggap po ako sa una kong trabaho,” she said.
Atty. Evelyn R. Ramos, DOLE-1 regional director, shared the message of Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III for the celebration of Kalayaan 2022.
Ramos said the labor secretary stressed his gratitude to all workers especially the overseas and frontline workers for their “diligence and resilience during these most challenging times.”
“We cannot overemphasize how these have immensely helped us sustain our economy and regain our momentum. Indeed, you are our country’s modern heroes,” Bello said as delivered by Ramos.
Atty. Evelyn R. Ramos, DOLE-1 regional director, reads the message of Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III during the celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence. (JPD)
Furthermore, 576 people were classified as near hires, which means they were hired but needed to submit additional or missing documents, or they may need to attend additional interviews or exams.
Job seekers attend an entrepreneurship training of the Department of Trade and Industry during the Independence Day Job Fair at CSI Mall, San Fernando City, La Union. (JPD)
Aside from the job vacancies, job seekers also had access to other government agencies such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Social Security System, and PhilHealth.
TESDA was referred 86 qualified applicants for skills training, DOLE for livelihood assistance, DTI for business opportunities, and 708 to other participating agencies.
Meanwhile, as World Day Against Child Labor coincided with the celebration of Independence Day, several child laborers in the region were given a backpack including school supplies and hygiene kits. (JCR/JPD, PIA La Union)
