At least 105 job seekers were hired on the spot during a job fair here last week, the city government reported Monday.

The Mayor’s Employment Generation Activity (MEGA) Job Fair, organized by the city government and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on March 13, drew 1,368 registered job seekers who applied for various local and overseas employment opportunities.

Of those who applied, 34 men and 71 women secured immediate employment after passing company interviews and initial screening.

Meanwhile, 136 applicants were classified as “near hired,” indicating they passed preliminary evaluations and are undergoing further processing with potential employers.

Tacloban acting PESO manager Julie Zane Sevilla said on Monday that the city continues to work toward increasing the number of applicants hired during every job fair.

“Our goal is to increase our employment rate, help people who are looking for jobs, and also assist employers in finding workers who are fit for the job,” Sevilla said in an interview.

A total of 51 local employers participated in the job fair, offering 1,643 vacancies. Seven overseas recruitment agencies were also present, providing about 1,000 job orders for applicants interested in working abroad.

Around 201 applicants also availed of the one-stop-shop area, where several government agencies assisted with employment requirements.

Among those hired on the spot was 23-year-old Eugene Catuday of Dolores, Eastern Samar, a Criminology graduate of Eastern Samar State University.

Catuday said he did not expect to be immediately hired after being interviewed by a call center company based in Cebu.

He expressed gratitude to the organizers, noting that the program provides significant support to people seeking employment.

“This will help our society, especially the unemployed who are looking for work. Through this, more people will be employed, and many will be able to help their families,” Catuday said.

City officials said the MEGA Job Fair is part of the local government’s regular employment initiatives, with another job fair scheduled in October this year. (PNA)