A TOTAL of 286 applicants were hired on the spot during the 2014 Kalayaan Job Fair last June 12 at the NCCC Mall Davao, Matina.
Close to 4,000 jobseekers joined the fairs. one of the major program initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole 11).
A total of 22,181 job vacancies from 113 local and overseas companies were made available on Thursday. Of the total jobs, 5,593 vacancies were from 79 local companies and 16,588 vacancies were from 34 overseas companies.
In a text message by Dole 11's labor communication officer Sherwin Manual, 202 were hired by local companies while 84 were hired by participating overseas companies.
Lining up since 7 a.m. in the morning did not go to waste as Celeste Wagas, 27, become one of the lucky ones who were hired on the spot by an overseas company as a waitress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
She said it was her first job fair in the year. Wagas said her whole experience was hassle free since she was pre-registered prior to the fair.
Dole 11 regional director Joffrey M. Suyao said with the 286 hired on the spot, the job fair was successfully conducted.
"Surprisingly, a lot of applicants registered prompting us to close the registration early," he said.
A total of 3,853 job applicants were registered wherein 3,260 were registered to local companies while 593 were registered to overseas companies.
Among these applicants, 2,301 were qualified, 1,871 in local companies while 430 in overseas companies.
One of the many applicants, Jovert Lumbao, who is applying in five local companies, said the experience was tiring but fun.
Charine Mamayabay, who applied in two local companies and three overseas companies, said she found the Labor Day Job Fair much more organized compared to the Kalayaan Job Fair.
Fresh graduates were also widely present during the fair.
One of them is Diamella Lariosa, 19, and just recently graduated from Philippine Women's College Davao, who was applying for three companies.
"The job fair is a good opportunity for us fresh graduates. It will also help us enhance and imporve our confidence," she said.
Holy Cross College of Sasa graduate Moises D. Baula Jr., 19, applied as a front desk officer in four different companies. He said though the fair may be tiring, once he got to the interview stage he felt relief.
There were also a total of 41 job applicants who were referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and two for livelihood assistance.
A total of 992 job applicants are up for further interview wherein 642 are in local companies while 350 in overseas companies.
Suyao also said that the job fair even begun before the formal opening since employers arrived as early as 8:30 a.m.
A one-stop shop was also placed during the fair, which included agencies such as SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Statistics Office, Tesda, and members from the Regional Coordinating Council.