VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – In celebration of its 29th anniversary, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the local government unit (LGU) of Tagudin, conducted its National Tech-Voc Day cum Job Facilitation through the World Café of Opportunities (WCO) at the Tagudin Farmers Civic Center in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur on Friday, August 25.
 
According to TESDA, the WCO is an institutionalized job facilitation platform of TESDA that started in 2018, which aims to open job opportunities and other employment support for tech-voc graduates, entrepreneurs, and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as to companies/industries looking for job seekers to fill up their vacancies.
 
“We hope that this program will inspire jobseekers to be more vigilant and aggressive in job hunting lalo na iyong mga may National Certifications (NC). Your NCs are your passports in finding a job abroad as almost all foreign employers require NCs as proof of job competency. Tulong-tulong tayo sa pagtatag at pagpapayabong ng makabagong Pilipinas. Let us work hand-in-hand and as one to make the world a better place to live in. Sa TESDA, lingap ay maaasahan,” TESDA Provincial Director Larry Dizon, Sr. said.

A total of 214 jobseekers submitted their applications to a total of 1,085 job openings combined from 11 overseas and local employers.
 
Some 12 jobseekers were hired on the spot while two were near-hired, according to the DOLE.
 
Joyce Lopez, 22, a resident of Santa Cruz town, was hired instantly at a call center company.
 
She expressed her thanks and excitement as she was hired immediately even when she was a first-time jobseeker.
 
“Grateful ako kasi sa first na trabaho na aking inaplayan ay agad-agad akong nakuha. Thank God kasi makakatulong na rin ako sa aking pamilya,” she said.

Lopez graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship this year and since then, she aimed to get a job but she has not been able to find job openings nearby.
 
“Thankful ako sa LGU-Tagudin, TESDA at DOLE para sa opportunity na ito dahil malaking bagay ito sa aming mga first-time jobseeker at marami sa amin, sa aking mga kasama, ang agad-agad na-hire,” she added.

National government agencies like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund also offered various services to the participants of the WCO.
 
Moreover, a total of 120 trainees from Tagudin town participated in the skills training on basic manicure and pedicure, “hilot” (massage wellness), basic haircutting, and papaya pickling. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)