THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Negros Occidental has registered a total of 893 applicants during its Kalayaan Job and Livelihood Fair held at the Event Center of 888 Premier Mall in Bacolod City on Wednesday.
Of which, 37 were hired on the spot. They all applied for local jobs, Dole-Negros Occidental reported.
There were 468 qualified applicants or those fit for requirements set by the employers, and 567 “near hires” or for further interview, it added.
Mary Agnes Capigon, head of Dole-Negros Occidental, said the annual Kalayaan Job and Livelihood Fair held every Independence Day is part of the employment facilitation program of the agency.
The region-wide job fair is mainly aimed at providing assistance to job seekers, Capigon said, adding that it is the mandate of the Dole to provide employment opportunities to the people.
Themed “Kalayaan 2019: Tapang ng Bayan, Malasakit sa Mamamayan,” the job fair is part of the 2019 Kalayaan Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) activity.
Dole-Negros Occidental reported that there were 34 participating-companies during the job fair.
Of which, 26 are local with total vacancies of 3,115 employment vacancies. The remaining eight companies are overseas with 4,404 vacancies, it added.
Capigon said local jobs included those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) and manufacturing, among others.
For overseas, jobs are mostly for skilled workers, she added.
Meanwhile, the agency also hosted an on the spot poster making contest as part of the 2019 World Day Against Child Labor celebration.
The activity aims to raise awareness among the public on the thrust of the government in preventing and eliminating child labor in the country.
This year’s theme is “Hayaan ang mga Batang Mangarap nang Huwag Malugmok sa Trabahong Mahirap.”
For elementary category, Samantha Alacap of Fernando F. Gonzaga Elementary School in Bacolod City was adjudged as champion.
Nathalie Araujo and Chelsey Anne Padilla, both of Handumanan Elementary School in Bacolod City, were second and third runners-up, respectively.
In the high school category, meanwhile, the top three winners are Julie E. Montaño of Handumanan National High School, Aldrich Rey Balgomera of Domingo Lacson National High School in Bacolod City, and Jwennyth Wackyn Lim also of Handumanan National High School.