The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 2 in collaboration with Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the City of Ilagan conducted a Jobstart Employers’ Forum on April 11, 2023 at the City of Ilagan Hotel, Ilagan City, Isabela.

DOLE Officer-in-Charge Regional Director, Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr., in his inspirational message, highlighted the importance of the Jobstart Program in the employability of at-risk youth.

“At risk” youth, according to the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), are young workers who have the least access to productive work.

“The program aims to lessen the Filipino youth’s difficulty in finding job and due to mismatch in the Labor Market… Ilagan City is the second City in Isabela to implement the program,” Atal said.

Mr. Paolo Janairo Sanidad, PESO Manager - Ilagan City, recognized the thirty-two (32) employers who attended the forum to become partner establishments in the implementation of the Jobstart program.

Full cycle implementation, Labor Market Information and Labor Education were discussed by Mr. Ralph Earl Wayne Domingo, Rachel Calayan, Kathlyn Taguinod and Romeo Sales Jr., DOLE Representatives.

Evyn Jay Diaz - Board Member Province of Isabela, Kyrill Bello, City Vice Mayor, Harold Olalia, Ariel Tabangcura and Antonio Manaligod , City Councilors also attended the activity.

Meanwhile, Mr. John Paul Pattaueg, PESO Ilagan, expressed his gratitude to the employers who joined the forum and encouraged their involvement in the implementation of Jobstart Program in Ilagan.

JobStart Program enhances employability of youth by reducing their job-search period and increasing their employability through training such as life skills and technical skills required by industries, paid internship and full-cycle employment facilitation services. ###