DUMAGUETE CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- Workers in the formal and informal sectors are highly encouraged to participate in the 121st Labor Day Activities set in this city on May 1, 2023. 

The invitation came from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Provincial Director Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco and Negros Oriental Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) Vice Chair and Labor Sector Representative Felizardo Calimpong. 

Tanquiamco said the local observance of the Labor Day Celebration will begin with a motorcade along the main thoroughfares in Dumaguete City at 6:00 a.m. leading to different events taking place around the Lamberto Macias Sports Center

The activities set up by DOLE and TIPC-Negros Oriental are related to this year’s Labor Day celebration theme “Pabahay, bilihing abot-presyo, benepisyo ng matatag na trabaho para sa manggagawang Pilipino.” 

Tanquiamco said DOLE will launch the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa on the same day to address the public’s concern on high prices of commodities. 

Consumers who are part of the labor sector can buy farm produce of local farmers at low prices and even market items and other local products at the Kadiwa event. 

Meanwhile, Calimpong announced that the TIPC will be conducting fun games and raffles in the same venue on the same day for members of the labor sector to add fun and excitement in the  local observance of the national holiday.

Prizes including three motorcycles will be given away during the TIPC fun games and raffles. 

Aside from this, Tanquiamco said the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) will be providing free wellness services like manicure, pedicure, massage, and hair cut during the activity. 

TESDA will also hold a Skills Demo so the participating workers and other people can observe and learn new skills which they turn into businesses in the future. 

There will also be a One-stop Shop of government services to be conducted during the event. 

Participating government agencies that will extend their services include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Social Security System, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, PhilHealth, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Internatl Revenue, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, PRC, Philippine Statistics Authority, PAG-IBIG, PHILPOST, PNRC. DMW and TESDA.

On the other hand, DOLE together with the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will also conduct a local and overseas job fair  at the Macias Sports Center on the same day. 

This year’s job fair will offer 2,158 job vacancies from 18 participating local employers and 935 overseas vacancies from 3 licensed recruitment agencies.

Interested applicants for the job fair are requested to pre-register online through this link: bit.ly/ RegisterLaborDayJFNegros2023 and fill out the required details. 

Tanquiamco said the conduct of job fair is department’s response to the public’s concern on stable employment opportunities and benefits which is reflected in the last part of the celebration’s theme “benepisyo ng matatag na trabaho.”

Calimpong said the observance of Labor Day in Dumaguete City is unique because concerned sectors have joined together to come up with a meaningful observance for both the labor and management sectors. 

He also stressed the importance of participating in the activity. 

“I am encouraging  most especially our employees (to participate). Mao man gud ning gitawag natong atong adlaw. Atong birthday gani ang ubang tawag ana (This day is intended for us. Other people consider this as our birthday),” Calimpong said. 

Tanquiamco also extended the invitation to participate in the Labor Day activities to the management sectors. 

“Among awhag sa tanan na mamumuo. (Sa) mga employees and employers na dili kaayo sila ga-join in our previous celebrations, ato sila gi-awhag to join this time (We invite every worker and even to employers who haven’t joined us in the previous celebrations to participate this time),” she said. 

Tanquiamco also urged companies joining the Labor Day job fair to hire employees on the spot so that more people could enjoy the benefits of a stable job. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)