ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 marked the recent 127th Philippine Independence Day with a series of high-impact programs across Western Visayas, turning the commemoration into an opportunity to generate jobs, empower youth, and strengthen grassroots livelihoods.
In Bacolod City, DOLE-6 spearheaded the Kalayaan Job Fair that led to 184 job seekers being hired on the spot, with over 1,700 more candidates advancing in the recruitment process. A total of 52 companies joined the event, offering more than 10,000 vacancies across various sectors, providing a major boost to employment in the region.
Youth empowerment also took center stage in Roxas City, Capiz, where DOLE distributed a combined P328,320 in wages to 47 students from Hercor College and Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES). The initiative is aimed at helping financially disadvantaged but deserving students stay in school through temporary employment during breaks.
In Antique, the Pandan Multi-Purpose Cooperative received P500,000 worth of baking equipment under DOLE’s Adjustment Measures Program (AMP). The initiative aims to strengthen the cooperative’s capacity to produce bread products, contributing to livelihood sustainability in the area. The program was complemented by a feeding initiative conducted by the Department of Education.
Guimaras hosted a Project Angel Tree event in Nueva Valencia, where parents of child laborers were given access to essential goods and social services. DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr. also committed P3 million in support for Barangay Panobolon’s livelihood and emergency employment programs under TUPAD.
In Aklan, DOLE organized the “Takbo Para sa Batang Malaya,” a fun run under the Bayani Run series to raise awareness against child labor. The event promoted child welfare while encouraging community involvement.
Meanwhile, in Iloilo’s Barotac Viejo town, L’Art De Café received P500,000 through DOLE’s AMP for facility upgrades, new equipment, and employee training, benefitting both management and staff. The assistance was facilitated through DOLE’s Iloilo Field Office.
Regional Director Rodriguez emphasized that the department’s regionwide Independence Day initiatives not only celebrated national freedom but also sought to uplift lives through inclusive employment and livelihood interventions./PN
