Iloilo city: Key government agencies and career advocates on Friday signed a memorandum of agreement aimed at strengthening coordination among the education, training, and employment sectors to better address the persistent challenge of skills mismatch. The signing of the agreement for career development and employment facilitation partners in Western Visayas forms part of the Regional Career Development Support Program (CDSP) working group.
According to Philippines News Agency, at the heart of this agreement is the 'CARE' Synergy Framework, which provides a seamless pathway from career guidance to employment. CARE stands for: Career Guidance and Assessment, Access to Training or Job Matching, Referral for Employment or Livelihood, and Employment. This framework is designed to guide individuals through understanding their skills and interests, connecting them to appropriate training or job opportunities, matching job-ready individuals with employers, and ensuring continuous skills upgrading.
Leading the signing were Labor and Employment Regional Director for Western Visayas lawyer Sixto Rodriguez Jr.; Science and Technology Regional Director Rowen Gelonga; Higher Education Regional Director Raul Muyong; and Professional Regulation Commission Regional Office 6 represented by Director Romel Balisang. Other signatories included representatives from the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, CHED-UniFAST Regional Office 6, Federation of PESO Managers of the Philippines - Western Visayas, Guidance Counselors' Network - Region 6, and Human Resource Network-Region 6.
The Labor Day celebration also featured a job fair offering more than 7,000 job vacancies, resulting in 49 on-the-spot hires and 67 near hires as of 1 p.m. on Friday. Rodriguez highlighted the importance of collaboration with government agencies and partners in bringing opportunities closer to people, emphasizing the goal of providing jobs and opening doors to sustainable livelihoods and long-term growth.
Fresh graduates Ailyn Mae Talaman from Tigbauan town and Jeanelle Kyle Borres from Iloilo City expressed gratitude as they were among the first to be hired on the spot at the job fair. Borres, hired as a customer service staff member at the Land Bank of the Philippines, expressed hope that the government continues to provide job opportunities to help more Filipinos.
