The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 6 (Western Visayas) is inviting job seekers and career shifters to explore thousands of opportunities during the upcoming 123rd Labor Day Job Fair on May 1.
DOLE-6 Technical Support and Employment Promotions Division OIC Jorge Ferraris II said Thursday that about 9,000 job vacancies are already up for grabs, with the number expected to rise to 10,000, including local and overseas positions.
“If you are planning to be a customer service representative, sales associate, service crew, bus conductor and driver, and food handler, these are the top list of our available vacancies. We are inviting everyone to pre-register,” he said during a press conference.
To date, 1,500 job seekers have signed up, with 98 local and five overseas employers confirmed to participate.
To ease access, DOLE-6 is offering free transport through the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative.
DOLE-6 Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said “Libreng Sakay” buses will shuttle job seekers to and from Robinsons Place Iloilo, the fair’s venue.
“One innovation we have here is we provide Libreng Sakay (free ride) in designated areas. There will be buses provided for the job seekers going to the venue,” Rodriguez said.
First-time job seekers could avail of free services made available by DOLE’s 16 partner agencies at their one-stop shop booths.
The Department of Health will deploy two mobile clinics to assess job seekers and for possible issuance of fit-to-work medical certificates.
They will also provide free laboratory tests, including those for sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus, X-rays, and urinalysis.
In addition to jobs, DOLE will have a payout for the 35,746 beneficiaries of the emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) workers amounting to PHP173 million.
Each beneficiary will receive a daily minimum wage of PHP513 for 10 days.
They will also release a PHP34.5 million grant for various livelihood projects, mostly agriculture-related, benefitting 1,400 recipients.
Assistant Regional Director Melissa Navarra said the celebration is not confined to Iloilo City but will also be celebrated in other provinces of the region.
Job fairs and payouts will also be held in Bacolod City and Capiz.
This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Manggagawang Pilipino, Kaagapay sa Pag-unlad, Sandigan ng Mas Matatag na Bagong Pilipinas.” (PNA)
