Over 1,000 jobseekers were hired on-the-spot from career fairs outside the National Capital Region (NCR) from 28 to 31 January, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A total of 1,029 were hired from the 9,373 registered for the nationwide job fair events.

Further, a total of 2,145 individuals utilized on-stop shop services, including of the National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Professional Regulation Commission, PhilHealth, and Philippine Statistics Authority during the career fairs.

Meanwhile, 279 job seekers also availed of skills enhancement opportunities, and 91 received livelihood assistance.

4Ps beneficiaries

Graduating beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the government, on the other hand, were also offered a new lifeline to break free from poverty as government offices and the private sector partnered to provide thousands of employment opportunities through the “Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas” job fair in Manila.

The job fair, organized by the Office of the President, the DOLE, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and other government offices, offered around 4,476 job vacancies from 96 participating employers.

Based on the preliminary report from DOLE NCR, 114 jobseekers from the 2,114 registered job hunters were hired on-the-spot during the event.

The event is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to integrate government programs and deliver them in a single venue to ensure greater accessibility, maximize benefits, and create a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries and their families.

"We have extended this so more and more of our countrymen would be able to meet their own needs, because this means that more Filipinos could contribute to the development of our country," Special Assistant to the President Anton F.Lagdameo Jr. said.

For his part, Labor Chief Bienvenido Laguesma said the event marks the start of the expanded and strengthened delivery of services and programs by Marcos' administration to fully assist and uplift 4Ps beneficiaries from their current situation.

"We have launched these fairs and are carrying out a collective action to address the condition of our 4Ps beneficiaries in general, towards raising their standard of living and livelihood to become a productive part of our society," Laguesma added.

Beyond the job fair, DOLE held an orientation on its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program specifically for residents affected by the recent fire in Isla Puting Bato.

Marcos earlier announced plans to conduct nationwide job fairs regularly throughout the year in a bid to address unemployment in the country.