Iloilo city: The local government inaugurated its second recruitment center at the city hall on Monday, with an ambitious goal to fill 5,147 job vacancies by October. This initiative also includes a workforce development program and livelihood opportunities for the residents.
According to Philippines News Agency, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Felix Gabriel Umadhay emphasized the gradual opening of recruitment centers, a promise kept by Mayor Raisa Tre±as to enhance employment access and ensure job security for the residents. 'By October, we hope to land over 5,000 people in the different industries that we offer. In this office, we will offer our workforce development program or the level-up university that will offer free upskilling for the BPO (business process outsourcing) companies for their promotion,' Umadhay stated in an interview.
The job opportunities include 733 overseas and 4,414 local positions, with 80 in logistics, 284 in the service sector, 316 in the industrial sector, 32 in agriculture, and 3,702 in the BPO industry. Additionally, livelihood options such as sari-sari stores, egg trading, and rice trading are available to 235 beneficiaries. Umadhay also noted, 'The ultimate goal of Mayor Raisa is for every Ilonggo to see their future here and not elsewhere in the Philippines or outside the country.'
Despite an employment rate exceeding 90 percent, the local government aims to reduce the underemployment rate, currently at approximately 11 percent, to a single digit. The unveiling of the recruitment hub was led by Tre±as and attended by key officials including Department of Labor and Employment-Western Visayas Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr., Department of Migrant Affairs Regional Director Glenda Aligonza, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Iloilo Director Esther Babalo.
Rodriguez pledged PHP5 million for emergency employment, PHP2 million for livelihood, and additional slots for the government internship program. Babalo expressed that the recruitment hub could serve as a model for other cities. Tre±as highlighted that the over 5,000 job opportunities are pledges and exclude job fairs, which sometimes offer more than 10,000 positions.
She further stated that the Technical Institute of Iloilo City is preparing for 25 NC II TESDA-accredited and community-based training open to all Ilonggos. 'I am pleased that our PESO is growing. It is recognized as the Best PESO in the whole Philippines,' Tre±as remarked, adding that the office aims for the Hall of Fame recognition as the country's best PESO.
In March, the city launched its first recruitment center at SM City Mall, successfully placing over 6,000 local and overseas workers. A third hub is set to open soon at Robinsons Place.
