Ilocos Region: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended financial assistance to 207 jobseekers who were hired on the spot during major job fairs across the Ilocos Region. This initiative, which took place from January 1 to June 13, was made possible through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD allocated over PHP1 million to support these beneficiaries. The majority of recipients hailed from Pangasinan, with 105 beneficiaries, followed by 46 in Ilocos Norte, 40 in Ilocos Sur, and 16 in La Union.

Grace Dela Cruz, DSWD-Eastern Pangasinan project development officer, explained in an interview that each beneficiary received PHP5,000. This financial support was utilized to meet employer requirements such as medical tests. "Those who were hired-on-the-spot during job fairs, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, will bring to us their guaranteed employment letter and we will assess them. Only those who are indigent or have no financial capacity to comply with the requirements are eligible," she said in Filipino.

Members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who were hired and have not previously availed of any aid under the SLP also qualify automatically for the program. "We do cross-matching to ensure that they have not yet availed of any assistance under SLP," Dela Cruz added.

Recipients of the EAF-SLP are required to liquidate the cash assistance by providing receipts and necessary documents. The EAF-SLP is a DSWD initiative aimed at helping participants secure employment by addressing the financial barriers related to employment documentation.