A TOTAL of 259 applicants, among almost a thousand who came, were hired on the spot by local and overseas companies during the Job Fair held at NCCC Mall Davao as of 3 p.m., Wednesday, September 13.
The job fair was spearheaded by the Office of Davao City Councilor Jesus Melchor Quitain, Jr., Department of Labor and Employment-Davao, and Public Employment Service Office-Davao City.
Councilor Quitain said the huge turnout of job seekers signified that many Filipinos lack opportunities in the country.
Most of the applicants, he said, were fresh graduates and those who did not complete their studies, hoping to get domestic jobs abroad.
There were 35 local and national companies composed of different sectors from lending, manufacturing, telecommunication, agriculture, and overseas recruitment that joined the job fair.
Quitain said job fairs in the country must be held on a regular basis to align with President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda to lower poverty rate and to increase the employment rate in the country by 2022.
"As it is my first time to organize a job fair, I was confronted with the reality of how important the role of government is in providing jobs for its people," he said.
Hence, he said his office will be conducting one or two more job fairs in the city in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies.
He also urged other non-government agencies and private organizations to set up more job fairs to help intensify the national government's campaign to bring more job opportunities for all Filipinos.