More than 1,000 job seekers from across Negros Island flocked to Robinsons Mall on Tuesday for the World Café of Opportunities job fair, significantly exceeding organizers’ expected turnout.

Ma. Socorro Mira, manager of the city’s Public Employment Service Office, said job seekers who lined up for interviews exceeded their expected 300.

“We have 1,200 local and overseas vacancies available,” Mira said in an interview, adding that the resumés of those who could not be interviewed before the cutoff would be collected for possible placement or consideration at the next job fair.

The interview cutoff was moved from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to accommodate applicants already at the mall.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Negros Oriental Provincial Director Fletcher Gumahad noted that many applicants are graduates of technical-vocational courses and possess National Certificates (NCs), which verify competency in particular trades and technical skills.

He said an NC can improve an applicant’s chances of securing jobs that match their skills.

Among those hired on the spot were Aaron John Rodriguez, 32, of Bayawan City, and Nelson Lucañas, 32, of Sta. Catalina, both for product sorter positions at a company in Saudi Arabia.

Rodriguez, an automotive graduate, said he was grateful to the government for bringing employment opportunities closer to job seekers in rural areas, even though the position he obtained did not align with his course.

Lucañas, a high school graduate, said he appreciated that the job fair offered opportunities regardless of educational qualifications.

Gumahad said the event coincided with National Tech-Voc Day and TESDA’s 23rd anniversary. He encouraged the public to explore TESDA’s courses, including programs leading to baccalaureate degrees and qualifications for NC I and NC II.

Government agencies, including the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Migrant Workers and Philippine Health Insurance Corp., also provided services to job seekers.

TESDA helped applicants register for the Skills Passport, an all-in-one mobile application launched in February that enables users to manage certifications, access scholarship opportunities and find job matches. (PNA)