TACLOBAN CITY -- The 100 vulnerable Tacloban City youths who signed up for the 15th batch of the JobStart Program -- the full employment facilitation program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Tacloban City local government unit (LGU) -- had their graduation on March 3 at the Robinson's North Mall in Abucay, Tacloban City.

In attendance were DOLE 8 Director Henry John Balbuena, Director Patrick Patriwariwan of the Bureau of Local Employment, and City Administrator and concurrent officer-in-charge of PESO, Anacleto Rei A. Lacanilao III, who represented Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez.

The batch's life skills training had begun in August 2022 as one of three phases of the six-month program, which also included technical skill training and internships that ran through January 2023.

The "jobstarters" had their training and internships in the following establishments: Macdonald's, Greenwich, Shakey's, Mang Inasal, Dunkin' Donuts, and Youth Plus Medical Group Inc.

Beneficiaries received a daily allowance during the life skills program. They also received stipends during the three months of technical training and pay during the three months of internship with the partner establishments. (TCIO)