CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – Some 163 jobseekers from Ilocos Sur were hired on the spot (HOTS) during the Kalayaan Job Fair 2023 on Monday held at Candon Civic Center here.

Coinciding with the commemoration of the 125th Philippine Independence on June 12, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) rolled out its annual job fair and one-stop-shop in 48 sites nationwide.

In Ilocos Sur, the DOLE recorded a total of 588 registered jobseekers who tried to apply to the 1,449 vacancies offered by the 42 local and overseas employers.

Verela Deign Alexa Ines of Sinait town was one of the HOTS who will be working as a Construction Account Officer at a private company in the country.

“Napalalo ti ragsakko ta finally ket adda manamnama a pagtarabakuan (I am so happy because finally I have a job),” she said.

When asked as to how was her experience during the application process, she answered, “Actually saan a narigat ti panagapply ko, nalaka laeng tapos sigod nak na-hire. During the interview, kaya met, just be yourself laeng (Actually, my application was easy as I was hired on the spot and I showed my eagerness to land the job by showing my true self during the interview).”

Apart from the opportunity to be employed, applicants/residents were also given the chance to avail of services from different national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations such as the Civil Service Commission that accepted applications for the August 2023 Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test for Professional and Sub-Professional Levels, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that distributed free seedlings, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority that provided free pampering services, among others.

As the host of the Kalayaan Job Fair every year, Mayor Eric Singson expressed his appreciation to its partners – the employers, and the national government agencies, headed by the DOLE.

“I’m hoping that our collective efforts will produce the most number of jobs offered and most importantly, the most possibility of being hired,” he said.

“Seeing you realize your dream of having a job is what we also dream for you because that is the very essence of this program that would be an accomplishment of our job for you,” he added as he continued to read his message to the jobseekers.

With the support of the office of Ilocos Sur Second District Rep. and Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson, some 65 grantees of the Government Internship Program (GIP) were also recognized during the activity as they start their six-month internship on Tuesday to the 23 local government units of the second district of the province.

A child labor program entitled “Araw ng Kaayaan Para sa Batang Malaya” Gamit sa Paaralan was also conducted in which some 110 indigent children were provided with groceries, school supplies, and piggy banks or “alkansya” under Representative Singson’s “Alkansiya para iti Masakbayan” program.

In her message, which was read by Mayor Singson, she assured her constant dedication in providing various services and assistance such as scholarships, medical, etc. to satisfy the needs of the people of the second district of the province. (JCR/MJTAB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)