CEBU City has been awarded for being the top-performing Public Employment Service Office (Peso) for the years 2024-2025, surpassing the target set by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the award, received through Cebu City’s Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP), was a testament to the City’s dedication to uplifting the lives of its constituents through accessible employment services, youth employment activities, and holistic career development.
At least 10,668 individuals were employed through the various programs set by the DMDP.
“My assurance is that you have to send job opportunity programs here in the city of Cebu so that we can provide more jobs for our people,” Garcia said.
Garcia added that as mayor, one of his priorities is to reduce unemployment in Cebu City.
DMDP head Anthony Aguhar, in a separate interview on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, disclosed the employment figures, highlighting a 98 percent success rate in placing referred job seekers.
Aguhar said out of the 10,888 that were referred to placement, 10,668 of them secured employment.
Aguhar said Dole had set a target of 10,000 placements for the covered period.
“We’re targeting that we can refer and place 100 percent,” Aguhar said.
Aguhar said DMDP will carry out the same efforts to surpass targets set by the national office Dole for the 2025-2026.
Aguhar said DMDP will apply for Dole’s 2025 top-performing Peso award in June, with the winner to be announced in 2026.
Livelihood program
Aside from the job placement, the DMDP is also focusing on enhancing its livelihood programs, shifting towards a more entrepreneurial approach, aiming to provide beneficiaries with sustainable business skills and connect them with agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry.
Aguhar said his office has also been conducting training for financial management and business planning operations.
He explained that financial assistance or seed capital is handled by the other agencies, like the Department of Social Welfare and Services.
“This isn’t just about livelihood; there’s actual sustainability here so that our future beneficiaries of our program can become entrepreneurs,” said Aguhar.
Coastline Management Board
The City’s Coastline Management Board’s (CMB) livelihood program, meanwhile, is making waves, with 2,760 individuals gaining new skills, according to CMB Chairman Ed Karlon Rama.
Launched by the CMB, the initiative offers training in candle making, soap and detergent production, food processing like Spanish sardines and embotido, wellness therapies, and even footpath construction.
While nearly all of Cebu City’s 16 coastline barangays have participated, the distribution of P5,000 seed capital to beneficiaries will be on hold until after the national and local elections, said Rama.
CMB livelihood program coordinator Gardenia Alaba noted that each barangay sends 30 participants per program, with individuals choosing their preferred training. / JPS