ILOILO City — More than 5,000 job opportunities will be opened to Western Visayas job seekers this Independence Day as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 stages its Trabaho Agad “Kalayaan” Job Fair, bringing together dozens of local and overseas employers in a massive employment drive aimed at translating the spirit of freedom into economic opportunity.
The June 12 job fair at Robinsons Place Iloilo will offer a total of 5,107 vacancies from 58 employers, including 3,418 jobs from 55 local companies and 1,689 overseas positions, making it one of the largest employment events in the region this year.
DOLE-6 regional director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said the initiative is designed to provide immediate employment opportunities while connecting applicants to various government services under one roof.
The event has already generated strong interest, with 743 job seekers registering as of June 10, according to DOLE-6 monitoring.
“We encourage all job applicants to be present at the venue, as all relevant agencies will be there to assist you and answer any questions you may have,” Rodriguez said.
The Kalayaan Job Fair is part of the flagship initiative of Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino aimed at providing meaningful opportunities for Filipinos.
Aside from employment opportunities, the event will feature a one-stop-shop service center involving various government agencies, including the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), among others.
The Independence Day celebration will also include a Eucharistic celebration, release of livelihood and employment assistance, a KADIWA and Livelihood Fair featuring 40 local sellers, Project Angel Tree activities, and free health services through mobile clinics staffed by doctors and nurses.
DOLE will likewise release financial assistance and stipends under several employment programs.
A total of 1,009 beneficiaries under the Government Internship Program (GIP) will receive P4.92 million in stipends across Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, 4,421 beneficiaries under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program will receive a combined P26.2 million in assistance on June 12.
Beneficiaries under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), including 70 students from Hercor College in Capiz, will also receive financial support amounting to P463,400./PN
