PBBM, Baricuatro highlight job expansion at national PESO Congress

CEBU CITY -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro joined national labor officials and local leaders Wednesday at the 26th National Public Employment Service Office Congress, pledging to expand job opportunities and strengthen placement networks nationwide.

The annual congress gathered approximately 1,600 participants, including PESO managers, public policy officials, and private sector employers, to streamline hiring processes and improve employment coordination between government agencies and jobseekers.

During the event, the Department of Labor and Employment reported that public employment offices assisted more than 1.4 million qualified job applicants in 2026, achieving a job placement rate of 91.72 percent.

Speaking at the convention, Baricuatro emphasized the need to align provincial economic expansion with local workforce development, particularly for young workers entering the labor market.

"Here in Cebu, we want our efforts to attract investments and support businesses to translate into jobs for our people," Baricuatro said, calling for stronger partnerships among government bodies, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.

The conference underscored the role of national-local government cooperation in ensuring economic growth generates stable employment and sustainable income for families across the country.