GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) nationwide job fair has recently enabled the immediate hiring of 102 out of the 828 job seekers in Soccsksargen.
DOLE Assistant Regional Director Fatima Quorayce L. Bataga said the two-day job fair held at the SM City General Santos was designed to connect job seekers with various potential employers in the region and even abroad.
“One of the main objectives of the job fair is for employers to hire on the spot, ensuring job seekers can secure employment without delays,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of such events in fostering local employment opportunities and supporting economic growth not only in Soccsksargen but also in the entire country.
The two-day job fair was in response to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide employment opportunities to address the country’s unemployment rate.
The event gathered local employers—manpower agencies, fishing companies, mall service providers, and manufacturing firms—offering a total of 2,952 job vacancies.
The three participating overseas employers also posted 1,960 job vacancies.
Bataga also expressed her satisfaction, commending the improved physical appearance of job seekers and their preparedness for job interviews during the event as compared to previous years.
“Masaya ang DOLE kasi nag-improve talaga ang ating job seekers. Noon, may pumupunta sa job fair na naka-tsinelas, naka-shorts, at hindi kumpleto ang documents. But this time, they are very ready physically and well-prepared for their interviews,” she said.
(DOLE is happy because our job seekers have really improved. Before, there were people who would come to the job fair wearing flip-flops, shorts, and incomplete documents. However, this time, they arrive at the job fair physically prepared with their complete documents.)
Jerwin Pacheco, a 2023 graduate, secured a job as a security guard at SOCOPA Agency, based in General Santos City, and was among those hired immediately.
“Nagapasalamat ko sa DOLE kay naghanda sila sang job fair na maraming work na pwedeng subukan. Salamat sa oportunidad, nahire ko kaagad. Nagraduate ko last 2023, tapos nagtraining ko, nag apply ko then kay timing may job fair ba,” he said.
(I am thankful to DOLE for organizing a job fair with many job opportunities that we can try. Thank you for the opportunity; I secured a job right away. I graduated in 2023, then I underwent training, applied, and it just so happened there was a job fair.)
Aside from job placements, the fair also featured a one-stop shop for job seekers, providing them the services of SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund.
The DOLE field offices also provided other employment-related services, such as career coaching, livelihood kit distribution, and orientation of Batas Kasambahay.
DOLE also vowed to continue its job facilitation efforts in the coming months with the election ban exemption granted to its key programs, such as SPES and TUPAD.
The agency also expressed its gratitude to the employers and job seekers, encouraging the latter to take advantage of future job fairs as part of DOLE’s ongoing commitment to boost employment in the region. (SRP – PIA SarGen)
