BACOLOD City — The City Government of Bacolod’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) was named the 2025 Top-Performing PESO in the Negros Island Region (NIR) during the PESO Managers Association of the Philippines (PESOMAP)-NIR Congress.
Bacolod PESO also received five other awards recognizing its employment programs and initiatives.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the recognition reflects not only the performance of the city’s PESO team but, more importantly, the lives improved through its employment programs.
Bacolod PESO was recognized for conducting the most job fairs in 2025 and recording the highest number of applicants hired on the spot.
The city also received awards for implementing the most Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) programs, as well as for its Labor Day and Kalayaan job fairs, Gasataya said.
The mayor said the awards represent the collective efforts of Bacolodnons who sought employment opportunities through the city’s programs.
“Behind these awards are lives that have been changed,” Gasataya said, noting that many job seekers arrived at job fairs carrying resumes and hope and left with employment opportunities.
He stressed that securing a job means more than earning a salary, as employment provides workers with dignity, stability and the ability to support their families.
“For us, that is the real measure of how much we have served,” Gasataya said.
Meanwhile, PESO Coordinator Jovelyn Canoy said the recognition boosted the team’s morale and motivated them to further improve their services.
She said the awards strengthened the team’s confidence and encouraged them to continue developing programs and services that provide employment opportunities to Bacolod residents.
Canoy added that the office would continue to expand its employment assistance programs and bring more job opportunities closer to job seekers in the city./PN
