DOLE job fairs place 2,467 applicants in jobs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said 2,467 jobseekers were hired on the spot during nationwide job fairs held on September 14 as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Handog ng Pangulo 2026” initiative.

The job fairs were held across 86 sites nationwide, where 1,352 employers offered 157,097 local and overseas vacancies, DOLE said.

A total of 28,795 jobseekers participated in the job fairs, which sought to bring employment opportunities and government services closer to communities.

DOLE Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said the initiative is aimed at making employment services more accessible and helping young Filipinos transition from school to work.

“They shouldn’t have to wait long to get your first real shot at work,” Mr. Tolentino said.

Among those hired were service crew, cashiers, production operators, massage therapists, security guards, office staff, baggers and sales executives.

The job fairs also provided employment opportunities to various groups, including 277 senior high school graduates, 39 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, 34 members of indigenous communities, three displaced overseas Filipino workers, 11 TUPAD workers, 12 persons with disabilities and 28 senior citizens.

In Metro Manila, DOLE-NCR recorded 421 hires on the spot and 737 near-hires during Trabaho Agad job fairs held on September 12, 14 and 15 in selected areas across the capital region.

A total of 2,971 jobseekers registered at the regional venues, including high school students, fresh graduates and former overseas Filipino workers.

The job fairs were conducted as part of “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” which seeks to bring government programs and services closer to communities.

Newly hired SM Hypermarket sales clerk Kerwin S. Liwanag, a fresh graduate, said the program provides jobseekers with opportunities to enter the workforce.

“Importante po yung ganitong programa dahil po marami pong mga tao na natutulungan, and nabibigyan po sila ng opportunity para magkaroon sila ng trabaho and para mas maging successful din sila sa susunod,” Mr. Liwanag said.

Beyond employment, 13,342 jobseekers also availed themselves of on-site services from the National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Pag-IBIG Fund.
Palace Press Officer Claire A. Castro said the administration welcomed the more than 2,400 jobseekers who were hired immediately through the nationwide job fairs.

The job fairs, held in 86 locations, allowed 1,352 employers to offer more than 157,000 local and overseas employment opportunities, Ms. Castro said.

She added that the government services provided at the venues were part of efforts to make public services more accessible to Filipinos.

“Decent jobs and effective public service—that is what the President wants for every Filipino,” Ms. Castro said.

Mr. Tolentino said DOLE plans to continue bringing job fairs to more communities, emphasizing the need to provide Filipinos with access to stable employment opportunities. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba