SOME 349 individuals were hired on the spot during the Labor Day Jobs Fair in Baguio City initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment Cordillera (DOLE)-Cordillera Administrativer Region (CAR) on May 1.
Of the 2,401 who registered, 1,723 applied for local jobs, while 678 applied for overseas posts.
DOLE said 1,839 of these applicants need to submit additional documents or are scheduled for final interviews.
Some 160 job seekers were also referred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for business opportunities, while 47 were referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for free skills training.
With the annual Labor Day jobs fair anchored on the slogan, “Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan”, DTI–CAR also conducted a business forum at the venue to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the needed information and on other related government services.
A Negosyo Center was put up during the jobs fair by DTI Cordillera along with the one–stop–shop government center that were joined by various regional line agencies.
Twelve contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-CAR also set up booths to hire skilled workers for their projects in line with the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government.
Job applicants were also treated with some perks with government assisted micro, small and medium enterprises, while Tesda, in partnership with technical–vocational institutions, provided free health and wellness services, such as haircut, massage and manicure and pedicure.
During the program, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa)-CAR distributed livelihood checks to 11 beneficiaries who received P20,000 each for their “Balik Pinas, Hanap Buhay” program, a package of livelihood assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
DOLE–CAR, for its part, distributed livelihood assistance with a total amount of P372,825 for the various livelihood undertakings of 19 program beneficiaries.
The jobs fair was graced by DOLE Regional Director Exequiel Ronnie Guzman and Assistant Regional Director Jess Atal, DTI–CAR Director Myrna Pablo, Owwa–CAR Director Manuela Peña, Mayor Maurio Domogan and Congressman Mark Go.