ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 is set to mount one of its biggest year-end employment drives, combining a major job fair with multimillion-peso livelihood and emergency employment payouts — an effort that officials say underscores the agency’s commitment to ease unemployment and support vulnerable workers across Western Visayas.
The December 5 job fair at Festive Walk Mall in Mandurriao district here will offer more than 4,000 vacancies, a mix of local and overseas opportunities tied to DOLE’s 92nd anniversary celebration.
But the stronger development, according to DOLE, is the simultaneous rollout of financial assistance under TUPAD, the Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), and the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP)—benefiting tens of thousands of workers in the region.
“We invite all job seekers,” said DOLE-6 assistant regional director Melisa Navarra, noting that 54 local employers are offering 2,729 vacancies, while four overseas employers are bringing in 1,288 more.
“May mga employers or local employers joining. As of now we have 54 local employers with 2,729 vacancies and may participating overseas employers kita nga ma-participate,” she said during a Dec. 2 press conference.
Navarra added that while 293 jobseekers have pre-registered, walk-ins will also be accepted.
Massive Assistance Drive Underway
Ahead of the job fair, DOLE-6 has already begun releasing aid under its flagship programs.
For TUPAD emergency employment – 22,730 workers from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental have received a combined ₱126,201,702:
* Aklan – 2,542 workers (₱14,133,250)
* Antique – 4,047 workers (₱22,501,320)
* Capiz – 7,888 workers (₱43,561,792)
* Guimaras – 1,604 workers (₱9,036,640)
* Iloilo – 5,733 workers (₱31,875,470)
* Negros Occidental – 916 workers (₱5,092,960)
On December 5, DOLE will also release ₱16,614,162 in livelihood and income-support grants under DILP and AMP, covering 501 beneficiaries:
* Antique – 26 workers (₱1,500,000, DILP)
* Guimaras – 62 workers (₱2,000,000, DILP)
* Iloilo – 400 workers (₱12,500,000, DILP)
* Negros Occidental – 501 workers (₱614,162, AMP)
Regionwide Job Fairs
Aside from Iloilo City, other fairs are being held across Western Visayas, including:
* Roxas City – Dec. 2
* Antique – Dec. 5
* Oton – Nov. 27
Batad – Dec. 9
Gov’t One-Stop Shop Ready for Jobseekers
A one-stop booth with 10 partner agencies — including Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Professional Regulation Commission, Philippine Statistics Authority, Occupational Safety and Health Center, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Department of Migrant Workers, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, Employees Compensation Commission , and Department of Social Welfare and Development — will assist applicants with documentary or training-related needs.
The anniversary theme, “Tatak DOLE sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Tapat, Nararapat para sa Lahat,” highlights DOLE’s push for accessible employment services and worker protection as the year closes./PN
