ILOILO: The 122nd Labor Day celebration in Iloilo was highlighted by the provision of 7,980 overseas and local job opportunities and the distribution of PHP32.18 million worth of emergency employment and livelihood projects.
As of noontime Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Iloilo registered 999 walk-in and online registrants for the nearly 8,000 jobs available while 29 were hired on the spot (HOTS).
Two of the HOTS were fresh graduates and had just passed their respective licensure examinations.
Erika Agcaoili from Cabatuan, Iloilo is a fresh graduate and passer of the Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examination. In an interview, she said she only tried her luck and did not expect to get hired.
‘I am looking forward to my oath-taking as a mechanical engineer and starting in my new workplace,’ Agcaoili said, adding that the job fair is a big help for fresh graduates because it provides them with an opportunity to get employed.
Efraim Latoza from the municipality of Lambunao was
instantly hired as a micro-finance loan officer, a job he will be holding on to while preparing his documents to join the police force.
‘I can now help my family and support my sibling’s schooling,’ said Latoza, who is the third among four siblings.
He said his effort to join the job fair has paid off.
Aside from the job fair, DOLE also released PHP10.94 million as salary of 2,091 beneficiaries of its emergency employment program, during a simultaneous payout in the towns of Maasin, Pototan, Lambunao, and Estancia, and Iloilo City.
The department also distributed more than PHP21.24 million worth of checks to the proponents and accredited co-partners of 10 projects under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
Among the biggest recipients were the Molo Transport Service Cooperative, with PHP1.38 million worth of livelihood projects, and the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), with PHP7.04 million.
DOLE also released more than PHP4 million for various projects of the 135 Indigenous People
s (IPs) affected by the construction of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project in Calinog town.
Source: Philippines News Agency