202 job seekers were Hired-on-the-Spot (HOTS) during the simultaneous 2023 Labor Day Job Fair in celebration of the 121th Labor Day in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya on May 1, 2023, as 1,306 job seekers from different municipalities and cities within Region 02 flocked five (5) designated job fair venues for a chance at employment.
The simultaneous Job Fair was participated by 145 employers with 5,034 total job vacancies. A Labor Education and Employment Coaching was also held to further inform our job seekers on General Labor Standards (GLS) to help them seamlessly transition to working opportunities. A Kasambahay Law orientation was also held in partnership with the RTWPB Region 02 during today’s set of activities.
OIC-Regional Director Jesus Elpidio B. Atal, Jr. said that the activity serves to highlight the convergence of different stakeholders all for the benefit of job seekers and workers in Region 02.
"All of these activities are part of DOLE's convergence approach to ensure a more holistic take on providing employment facilitation service to our beneficiaries, an approach we hope can be replicated in other job fair activities in the future," OIC-RD Atal, Jr. said.
DOLE RO2 Assistant Regional Director, Atty. Nepomuceno A. Leaño II meanwhile declared the official opening of the job fair, which was attended by job seekers hoping to secure employment from the job vacancies offered during the event.
Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que, who delivered the welcome remarks, remarked on the importance of the labor force for the economy to recover, especially with the vulnerability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult for workers to secure jobs.
"Let us bear in our minds the plights of our workers here and abroad so we can further their rights. Rest assured that LGU Tuguegarao City shall always support the DOLE Region 02 to improve the working conditions of workers here," Mayor Ting-Que said.
Dr. Lourdes Narciso, MD, Vice-Chair of the Cagayan Valley Regional Tripartite Industry Peace Council, served as the guest speaker of the Job Fair in SM City Tuguegarao.
This year’s iteration with the theme: Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino was highlighted by the Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa Manggagawa in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 02 and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 02 to promote and support 29 agri-business groups and enterprises from the different provinces of Region 02 by bringing their produce directly to consumers and strengthen the farm-to-consumer food supply chain in the region.
A One-Stop-Shop: Government Services to ensure that job seekers and other participants are able to secure pre-employment requirements and other services from participating agencies, to include the Pag-IBIG, Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OHSC), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Employees Compensation Commission (ECC), Philippine Statistics (PSA), Department pf Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was also a highlight of the whole-day activity.
The simultaneous activity was complemented by the awarding of TUPAD and livelihood assistance in SM City Tuguegarao as well as TUPAD payouts throughout the region worth P41.5M and benefiting 8,335 beneficiaries. Livelihood assistance in the form of Starter Kits worth P13.5M were also distributed to 586 beneficiaries in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya earlier.
Mayor Ting-Que, Peñablanca, Cagayan Mayor Washington Taguinod, Camalaniugan, Cagayan Mayor Isidro T. Cabaddu, Gattaran, Cagayan Mayor, Engr. Samuel G. Siddayao, Baggao, Cagayan Mayor Leonardo C. Pattung and Vice Mayor Rowel Gazmen, San Agustin, Isabela Mayor Cesar Mondala, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya Mayor Elizabeth D. Balaysa and Dupax Del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya Mayor, Atty. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton attended the awarding of TUPAD checks in SM City Tuguegarao while Iguig, Cagayan Mayor Ferdinand B. Trinidad received a TUPAD check in the same venue. Ms. Kristine V. Ceballos, Mall Manager of SM City Tuguegarao, also provided a message of support to the DOLE and its partners during today’s opening ceremonies.
The DTI Region 02 also lent their Diskwento Caravan during the said event while the TESDA RO2 provided assistance to Job and Trade Fair participants through their Skills Registration, Assessment & Issuance of Certificates, Free Pedicure and Massage Services.
Today’s simultaneous Job and Trade Fair was realized through the convergence efforts of the DOLE Region 02’s Technical Support Services Division (TSSD) through Chief Laura B. Diciano, the Internal Management Services Division (IMSD) through Chief Reginald B. Estioco, Mediator-Arbiter, Atty. Mary Gladys R. Paguirigan, the DOLE-Cagayan Field Office (CFO) through Provincial Director Grace A. Pomar, the DOLE-Isabela Field Office (IFO) through Provincial Director Evelyn U. Yango, the DOLE-Quirino Field Office (QFO) through Provincial Director Geraldine B. Labayani, and the DOLE-Nueva Vizcaya Field Office (NVFO) through Provincial Director Elizabeth U. Martinez. ###
