MORE than 1,000 persons were hired on the spot, including more than 100 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, during the three-day “Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” job fairs held in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
President Marcos Jr. kicked off the three job fairs in Pasay City in Metro Manila on January 31, Iloilo City in the Visayas last February 13, and Tagum City in Mindanao on February 15.
The President promised at each event to provide more similar job fairs in the future for the public, especially for beneficiaries of the 4Ps beneficiaries as well as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), by helping them secure stable employment, enhance their quality of life and help them graduate from poverty or prevent them from returning to it.
Marcos said that since the January job fair, 9,068 individuals applied and 1,028 were hired on the spot, including 95 beneficiaries from the 4Ps program.
The “Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” jobs fair is organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in coordination with other government agencies
Aside from the different employers’ booths, the job fair also served as a one-stop-shop for government services, with booths set up by the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-Ibig Fund, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Education (DepEd), and Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
Data from the DSWD showed at least 4,000 job seekers attended each of the job fairs, which included 3,000 4Ps beneficiaries who underwent job interviews and orientation on the DSWD’s various programs and projects.
It also showed that 126 of the 4Ps members were hired on the spot – 76 in Luzon, 15 in the Visayas and 35 in Mindanao while 22 others from the Visayas were guaranteed hired once they submitted additional documents required by the employers.
Among the jobs available were housekeeping staff, maintenance, sales associates, utility persons, customer service representatives, insurance agents, store clerks, cashiers, baggers, and operation management trainees.
Each 4Ps job seeker was provided a P3,000 cash aid under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) which they could use to defray expenses for their pre-employment requirements, and for practical support as they explored employment and livelihood opportunities.
Those who were hired on the spot and guaranteed employment could also avail of up to P5,000 worth of cash aid under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program’s (SLP) Employment Track (EF) assistance which they could use for the additional processing of their employment documentary requirements; medical examinations; purchase of basic employment tools and materials; transportation and meals; and board and lodging until the first 15 days of employment, among others.
The DSWD released an initial P26.54 million in cash assistance to the 4P household beneficiaries who participated in the job fair.
