DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – About 183 people were hired on the spot during the Independence Day job fair of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Agnes Aguinaldo, head of DOLE Central Pangasinan Field Office (CPFO), said at least 31.9 percent of the 573 applicants, or 183 individuals, were hired-on-the-spot.
DOLE Region 1 offered 8,407 local and overseas job vacancies, with 23 employers presenting job opportunities.
Fresh graduate Lawrence Lopez, who participated in the jobs fair, expressed his gratitude to DOLE Region 1 after securing immediate employment with a business process outsourcing (BPO) company.
“’Yung mga ganitong Job Fair (Kalayaan Jobs Fair) ay malaking tulong sa bawat Pilipinong naghahanap ng trabaho na maaaring mapasukan, At sa mga tulad kong fresh graduate ay dapat magtiwala sa kanilang sariling kakayahan upang makakuha ng magandang trabaho sa hinaharap,” Lopez said.
(This event is such a big help to all Filipinos seeking a job, and I just want to say to all fresh graduates like me to trust themselves and their capabilities to secure a great job in the future.)
One of the job seekers who was also hired on the spot (HOTS) was John Arthel De Guzman, a 24-year-old resident of San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
He stated the challenges job seekers frequently face when looking for work, such as sending several resumes, either online or in person, and waiting weeks to hear back from companies.
“Job seekers really go through many problems, so the job fair organized by DOLE is very important for us to find work, whether locally or abroad,” De Guzman said.
De Guzman encourages unemployed citizens to attend job fairs and to keep trying until they secure their desired position.
“Do not give up on life despite all the negative things you may encounter. Use them as inspiration to succeed in life,” De Guzman said.
According to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s employment rate in April 2024 was 96 percent, marking a 0.5 percent increase compared to the same time last year.
DOLE also offered different courses from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to strengthen individuals’ skills, as many employers at job fairs seek employees who are skilled and meet their qualification standards.
Aguinaldo encourages job seekers to visit and avail of free TESDA training to help them acquire essential skills for employment and livelihood opportunities. (JCR/AMB/RPM/JSZ/PIA Pangasinan)
