By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Over 3,000 have secured employment on the spot during the simultaneous nationwide job fairs conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday in celebration of the 127th Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
Based on the preliminary report released by the Bureau of Local Employment on Friday, a total of 3,364 applicants were hired on the spot (HOTS) for the positions of cashier, service crew, production operator, ESL teacher, bagger, sales associate, clerk, production crew, loan officer, and store clerk.
It also said 25,876 job seekers registered in the 50 job fair sites nationwide jointly organized by the DOLE Regional Offices and the Public Employment Service Offices.
On the other hand, 4,676 job seekers were classified as near-hires pending final evaluations or document submission, while 21,419 were deemed fully qualified for the available positions.
Vulnerable groups also benefited, with 274 senior high school graduates, one person with a disability, and 10 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program hired on the spot.
The DOLE also said 55 private company interns and 37 Government Internship Program (GIP) beneficiaries were hired.
A total of 1,573 employers participated in the event, offering 153,187 local and overseas job vacancies.
The nationwide event also featured a one-stop shop of government services to assist in issuing pre-employment documents. Participating agencies also provided Jobseeker Auxiliary Services, including career development support, labor consultation, and programs on livelihood, skills training, and entrepreneurship.
As a result, 1,150 job seekers received career development support to improve job readiness and career prospects; 940 expressed interest in skills enhancement training; 323 availed of livelihood assistance; 79 explored entrepreneurship opportunities; and 9,142 accessed government services from agencies such as Pag-IBIG, Social Security System, and PhilHealth.
DOLE said it expects the numbers to increase as it will monitor and verify job fair data from its regional offices.
Meanwhile, the department is organizing a related job fair on June 19 at Ayala Malls Circuit Makati.
This initiative reflects President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s commitment to uplifting the lives of Filipinos by generating employment opportunities and enhancing accessibility through regular job fairs. (PNA)
