LABOR DAY FESTIVAL. Heads of various government agencies in the Ilocos region provide a media briefing on Monday (April 24, 2023) on the upcoming Labor Day Festival in Vigan, Ilocos Sur from May 1 to 2, 2023. For the first time, Ilocos Sur is hosting the festival to honor Filipino workers. (Photo courtesy of DOLE-1)
LAOAG CITY – More than 17,000 jobs and affordable goods and services will be offered during the Labor Day Festival in Vigan, Ilocos Sur from May 1 to 2, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.
DOLE 1 (Ilocos) Director Exequiel Roni Guzman said the job fair, hosted by the provincial government of Ilocos Sur, would take place at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood and Development Center in Vigan City, aiming to empower local workers and entrepreneurs.
About 25 local and overseas employers will participate and offer mostly local job opportunities for customer service representatives, hotel and tourism workers, financial agents, and construction workers, among others.
“We have also invited other government institutions because there are so many job openings in the government. For example, the Philippine National Police has a 6,000 quota nationwide, the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and others,” he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry - Ilocos Sur Director Rosario Quodala said in an interview Tuesday that at least 28 micro, small and medium enterprises will be holding a trade fair during the Labor Day Festival.
In support of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, the trade fair will include a "Diskwento Caravan" where suppliers of prime commodities will be invited to sell goods at discounted prices.
On the part of the Department of Agriculture, at least 40 Kadiwa recipients were also invited to sell fresh farmer’s produce at the trade fair.
Meanwhile, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority will also provide free skills training and issue a National Certification to eligible applicants at the job fair.
As in previous Labor Day celebrations, a one-stop shop service participated in by various government institutions, such as the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Statistics Authority, Professional Regulatory Commission, will cater to the requirement needs of clients.
The two-day Labor Day Festival also includes the awarding ceremony for the livelihood projects of the DOLE like the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), and the Government Internship Program. (PNA)
