Labor day job fairs; Hundreds of Cebuanos got hired ‘on the spot’

CEBU, Philippines - Almost 100 applicants yesterday got hired on the spot at the job fair the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) spearheaded at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall yesterday.

Labor and Employment Officer 3 Julius Chua said that as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, there were 98 recorded applicants who had been hired on the spot and were qualified for local employment.

This year’s successful turnout was higher compared to last year.

Jesie Ann Lopez, 23, was among the 100 applicants who got hired on the spot in yesterday’s job fair.

"I am happy nga naa nakoy work. Thankful kaayo ko sa PESO. This is a good setting para makakita sad ang uban ug trabaho," said Lopez.

Lopez, graduate of a vocational course, applied as sales staff in a cellphone accessory company.

"Private caregiver ko before pero layo man gud, so nangita ko'g laing choice.  So, mao ni siya," she added.

Mathea Baguia, PESO’s Consultant on Employment Services, said 25 percent of the applicants every year are being hired on the spot.

There were 31 participating companies yesterday that assisted and interviewed the applicants.

The jobs offered include sales staff electronic assembler, clerks, cashiers, customer service, tech support services in BPO companies, baggers, customer assistant in a department store and massage therapist.

Baguia clarified that they also had qualifications for high school graduates in the lower category or classification.

"Di naman kaayo ta particular sa age as long as kahibaw lang siya.  More or less, we are practising no-age discrimination man gud," said Baguia.

Job fairs held annually are under the program of DOLE and are implemented by PESO.

Another job fair will be offered by the provincial government this July 9 for overseas employment.

May Thresse Cunanan, 22, sat at a corner in the Abellana Sports Center, confused as to what career she would choose on the more than 10,000 job descriptions offered during the Labor Day job fair.

As a fresh graduate of Hospitality Management last March, Cunanan was eager to pursue a hotel management career. However, due to its unavailability, she decided to venture into other job opportunities even if they are not relevant to her field of study.

"Wala pakoy napilian (nga trabaho) kay wala man koy nakit-an nga hotel nga nag-hiring gud. Pero willing rako mangita og lain nga trabaho. Bahala di ko ganahan ug dili connected sa akong course akong ma-aplayan, okay ra especially karun na naa nakoy baby," Cunanan said.

Cunanan is just one of at least 2,000 jobseekers who had trooped to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) as the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) - Cebu commenced the 78th Mega Local and Overseas job fair yesterday.

DMDP head Fidel Magno said that the number of applicants for this year's job fair increased compared to the last five years.

"Katung pirmiro nato nga local job fair kay niabot to og 8,000 (ang applicants).  Pero for the last five years kay 700 rato. Namingaw gyud. Karun ra na crowded balik (ang job fair). As early as 6 o'clock kay naa nay daghan tao. Wa mi ga-expect," he shared.

There were more than 4,000 local and 6,000 overseas jobs offered by 70 employers, which were open to all jobseekers, fresh graduates, and other interested applicants.

"Wa tay age discrimination. Bisag senior citizen kay puwede rajud sila mu-apply. It's up to the employer," he said.

"Unlike sa una nato nga job fairs nga naa tay screening area, ato nana giwagtang. Gi-open na nato where the applicants are free to go to the employer," he added.

Magno encouraged applicants who were not hired to consider entrepreneurial pursuits or for those youth at rest to avail the 10-day Job-Start Program which is funded by the government of Canada and Asian Development Bank.

"If wa jud sila ma-hire kay puwede ra sad mag self-employment sila. Duna sad tay Job-Start Program para sa katung di jud kasulod og trabaho, where the applicants will be taught how to package themselves during the job application. Tudluan nato sila'g written and oral communication, how to groom themselves, and change their negative attitude to positive," he said.

"Ang number one gyud na gipangita sa usa ka employer kay ang good attitude sa applicant. Secondary naman lang ng skills kay it can be learned; ang experience can be learned," he added.

Magno said that 42 percent of the unemployed belong to the 18-24 years old bracket.

"This is really a huge problem kay our youth is the hope of our fatherland niya unemployed sila. Mao na ang mga program sa government kay geared towards them (youth). Mao nang naa ang Job-Start," he explained.

The program encompasses life and technical skills training and a guaranteed on-the-job training (OJT) for a maximum of three months. The beneficiaries of the program will also be provided with AM snacks and a daily allowance of 200.

In Talisay City, more than 700 employees from four different cities in Cebu joined the Labor Day celebration at the Sisters' of Mary Girls Town yesterday.

The celebration started with a caravan from Lapu-Lapu City Hall.

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas, Vice Mayor Allan Bucao, Cebu City Councilor Sisinio Andales and Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna were present during the event.

DOLE Regional Director Engineer Elias Cayanong and Assistant Secretary Lawyer Maria Gloria Tango, who represented and read DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s message for the celebration, were also present.

“Ang Araw ng Paggawa ay araw din ng pagkilos upang maisakatuparan ang adhikain ng 'Ambisyon Natin 2040.  May hangarin tayo na ang lahat ng Pilipino ay magkaroon ng matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay,” Bello's message read.

Tango, when asked about Bello’s announcement stopping the direct hiring of OFW's, said that it is only a suspension.

“Kay naay naabot sa iyaha nga reklamo nga naay mga fixers nga mo-facilitate ug ang nag-facilitate nangayo og kwarta.  Kay ang name hire ug direct hiring wala man jud na siya'y bayad.  Ug naa nay directive sa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Central office (POEA) nga naay buhaton nga investigation para ana,” she added.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the releasing of livelihood grants for the local governments of Talisay and Lapu-Lapu.

Mahayahay-Artisan Fishermen Association Buy and Sell Fishing Gear and Supply in Barangay Cansojong Talisay received P691,430 in livelihood grants, P721,250 for Mohon Small Transport Driver's Association Side Car Production for Tricycle in Barangay Mohon Talisay, and P1,003,250 for Tina-an Neighbourhood Multi-Purpose Cooperative Lemon Grass Calamansi Natural Juice Production in Naga City, Cebu.

The newly-appointed members of the Board of Trustees of the Industry Tripartite Council (ITC) in the cities of Talisay and Mandaue also took their oath during the celebration. — Nova E. Valizado, Arvie Veloso (FREEMAN)