Manila: Senior High School (SHS) graduates nationwide gained a significant job-hunting edge as the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) opened dedicated green lanes at Labor Day job fairs Friday to accelerate their entry into the workforce. To access the green lane, an express entry privilege that allows SHS graduates to bypass long queues and reach employers faster, applicants must simply present valid credentials such as a school identification card and a certificate of completion or graduation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated that the initiative fulfills the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uplift the lives of the underprivileged. Angara emphasized the responsibility to bring government services and real opportunities closer to learners, aligning with President Marcos' aspirations to lift every Filipino family out of poverty.
The Labor Day job fairs were simultaneously held in various strategic sites nationwide to ensure localized access, with DOLE identifying around 70 sites nationwide, primarily located in malls, to provide over 230,000 employment opportunities. The effectiveness of the socio-economic strategy was showcased during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) rollout in March, with over 1,400 SHS and Alternative Learning System graduates hired on the spot.
Around 40 schools nationwide were transformed into one-stop hubs, offering jobs and support for graduates during the BPSF. Over 5,900 graduates received free pre-employment documents, such as birth certificates and National Bureau of Investigation and police clearances, effectively removing the high costs that often prevent those in financial distress from applying for work.
Angara highlighted that through the green lane and removal of fees for documents, the burden on parents is eased, and graduates are provided the opportunity to contribute immediately in their respective homes. The initiative also builds upon the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act or Republic Act No. 11261, with Angara as the principal author during his tenure in the Senate. The law institutionalizes government support for youth seeking to break the cycle of poverty.
