A one-day mega job fair in Iloilo on Wednesday offered 8,740 local and overseas employment opportunities to job seekers.

The “Tara, Trabaho G! Mega Job Fair,” organized by the Office of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Iloilo Provincial Public Employment Service Office, aims to help address unemployment in the country, said Paiqah Gaid, head of constituent services at Gatchalian’s office.

The job fair was also held simultaneously in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan to expand access to decent and dignified employment, Gaid said in an interview.

“This is a continuous program until the end of the year,” she added.

In his message during the opening ceremony, Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said the provincial government has been investing in the Filipino youth, including efforts to address stunting and wasting among children under 5 and learning poverty.

“You are very fortunate that you have reached this stage. If you remember, not all of your classmates in Grade 1 were able to graduate from college,” he told job seekers.

Iloilo Provincial Public Employment Service Office head Cynthia Dario said the province’s unemployment rate stood at 3.49 percent, while its employment rate was 96.51 percent.

As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, 28 applicants had been hired on the spot, Dario said.

The job fair brought together 30 employers offering 3,953 local job openings and 4,787 overseas employment opportunities. (PNA)