In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

72 hired instantly in GenSan 'Kalayaan' jobs fair

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--At least 72 job seekers from this city and the neighboring areas were hired on-the-spot during the 2018 Independence Day or "Kalayaan" regional job and business fairs here on Tuesday.

Sisinio Cano, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 12 director, said Wednesday the newly-hired workers were among the 984 applicants who participated in the annual job fair held at the KCC Mall Convention Center.

Cano said they all received regular or permanent placements in companies and commercial establishments based in the city and other parts of Region 12 or Soccsksargen.

The official also said that a total of 98 applicants were provisionally hired by employers, with 94 for both local and four for overseas placements.

Also called "near hires," Cano said these job applicants were already considered as hired but needs to submit additional or lacking requirements and may need to undergo further interviews and tests.

DOLE-12 was able to generate around 6,000 job vacancies for the Independence Day job fair, which was joined by 90 local companies and 20 overseas recruitment agencies.

Of the 984 registered job seekers, the agency said a total of 882 applied for various local jobs and 102 for overseas placement.

Cano said some of the applicants who were hired on-the-spot were fresh college graduates and skilled workers.

"These are first time job seekers but they were hired immediately as their qualifications and skills matched with the needs of the employers," he said.

The DOLE-12 official cited the case of 22 year-old Andy Game, who only graduated from college last March.

Game, who was employed as a production worker by the Cannery Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Polomolok, South Cotabato, was among the initial applicants who were hired on-the-spot.

First time job seeker Rhey Boy Tacda, 20, of Barangay Bual in Tulunan, North Cotabato, was hired on-the-spot by the KCC Mall of Gensan as a sales associate.

"This are positive developments since our main priority was to get as many workers hired on-the-spot for local jobs," Cano said.

During the activity, job seekers and other stakeholders were treated to free services from attached agencies of DOLE-12 and other concerned government offices.

The Department of Trade and Industry conducted a sales or discount caravan and opened consultation and services desks for its Negosyo Center and "Super Consumer" program.

For its part, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority held skills demonstrations as well as free massage, manicure, pedicure and hair cutting services.

Service desks were set up by Department of Foreign Affairs, Professional Regulation Commission, Pagibig Fund, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the National Bureau of Investigation. (PNA)

Comments