PESO institutionalization endorsed

CEBU, Philippines – The institutionalization of the Public Employment Service Office, or PESO, has been approved and endorsed by the Talisay City Council’s committee on laws and good government to enhance the office’s employment programs.

In a two-page committee report, City Councilor Socrates Fernandez said the committee’s endorsement for the PESO’s institutionalization arose from the numerous job opportunities for Talisaynons.

“There is a need to institutionalize the PESO Office in Talisay City, as it created to provide employment service to all unemployed and underemployed constituents in the city and coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment for the implementation of its various labor and employment programs and activities,” Fernandez said in his committee report.

The PESO ordinance, authored by City Councilor Aldin Diaz, was intended for pushing more job opportunities for residents of the city.

Under the measure, PESO shall help address the problem of unemployment, lack of skills among the city’s labor force, lack of adequate information on employment opportunities and lack of job placement for job seekers and applicants in the city.

If the ordinance will be approved, the office shall have the following subsection officials: PESO manager with Salary Grade 19; administrative officer II with Salary Grade 11; and administrative assistant II with Salary Grade 8.

The PESO manager has the power to recommend to the city mayor for appointment the personnel needed for the office.

The PESO shall serve as a referral and information center for employment opportunities in Talisay, and a venue for job seekers who will be seeking assistance.

It will also develop and administer testing and evaluation instruments for effective job selection, training and counseling, as well as provide employment counseling, career guidance and value development activities.

The PESO is a non-fee charging multi-employment service entity, established under Republic Act 8759, otherwise known as the PESO Act of 1999.

The law mandates its establishment at the local level nationwide to carry out full employment facilitation and to open up equal employment opportunities, while strengthening and expanding the government services in providing jobs to the public.