A total of 391 job seekers in the Ilocos Region were hired on the spot during the Labor Day job fair held on May 1, the Department of Labor and Employment-Region 1 (DOLE-1) announced on Friday.

According to DOLE-1, 1,809 job applicants registered across six job fair venues in the region.

Of those hired immediately, 36 were beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 80 were senior high school graduates, and one was a beneficiary of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

An additional 382 applicants were classified as near-hires.

A total of 21,752 job vacancies were made available during the fair, including 15,922 local and 5,830 overseas positions offered by 167 participating employers. Commonly filled positions included roles in sales, customer service, cashiering, food service, and administrative support.

Ronel Quintos, 27, from Lingayen, Pangasinan, who secured a job as a production operator, was elated after landing a job.

“I am very happy. This is a big opportunity for me,” Quintos, who had been unemployed since November of last year, said.

He found out about the job fair through a Public Employment Services Office social media post.

“This job fair, along with other Labor Day activities, is proof that the government continues to strive in providing support and opportunities to our workers,” DOLE-1 Regional Director Exequiel Ronie Guzman said.

By the end of the fair, 293 jobseekers received medical consultations, and 86 were issued clearances necessary for employment.

The job fairs were held simultaneously at the following venues: Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte; Sta. Cruz Cultural, Tourism, and Trade Center in Ilocos Sur; Senator Alejo R. Mabanag Hall in San Fernando City, La Union; Provincial Training and Development Center II in Lingayen, Pangasinan; Robinsons Pangasinan in Calasiao; and CB Mall in Urdaneta City. (PNA)