The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol will conduct job and business fairs via online platforms, posting more than 2,000 vacancies in companies across the region.

The three-day Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) fairs with the theme “Mayo Uno sa Bagong Panahon: Manggagawa at Mamamayan Babangon, Susulong” will be held from April 30-May 2.

In an interview on Thursday, Ma. Zenaida A. Angara-Campita, DOLE-Bicol director, said their office is still inviting employers who are in need of workers to submit their list of vacancies.

“We are still inviting employers who may want to join in our job fair, so we can offer as many jobs as possible to all job seekers out there,” she said.

Campita said due to a slight increase in the region’s unemployment rate based on the latest result of the Labor Force Survey provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), DOLE is continuously implementing strategic recovery programs amid the prevailing pandemic.

“Despite the restriction on mass gathering due to surge in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, we are still to pursue our annual job fair, but this time we will make it online,” she said.

Campita also said DOLE had responded to concerns over lost jobs and reported displacements through the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), under which affected formal and informal workers were given immediate financial assistance last year.

“Now that our economy is gradually re-opening, we have to recover the employment that has been lost due to pandemic. It is through this online job fair that we can set up a ‘marketplace-like’ for both employers looking for their future workers and job applicants seeking employment opportunities through an online system,” she said.

As of Wednesday, Campita said there are more than 2,000 vacancies awaiting job applicants, and they hope to still increase the numbers.

“The link is bit.ly/wb-dole5-reg. We advise those applicants to register ahead of time to avoid system lag,” she said.

Campita noted that the online job fair includes the “negosyo” (business) and “kabuhayan” (livelihood) components.

“Negosyo” includes DOLE’s advocacy for entrepreneurship featuring successful local entrepreneurs and products catalogs; business opportunities that will focus on the industry-specific to the locality and/or local chambers; government support and assistance in starting a business registration, e-commerce and; support and assistance to small and medium enterprises through business advisory and counseling, she explained.

For her part, Johana Vi Gasga, DOLE-Bicol spokesperson, said, “A series of webinars on ‘How to start a Business’ and other related topics will be discussed by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) via FB Live during the three-day job and business fairs”.

For “kabuhayan”, she said there would be a help desk, advocacy on livelihood programs, and provision of training and starter kits.

“It will showcase products from DOLE-assisted projects wherein viewers can buy local products via online,” Gasga added. (PNA)