Several local government units (LGUs) on Labor Day proudly shared their employment services program under their respective Public Employment Services Offices (PESO), reaching out to barangays to serve them job opportunities.
Interviewed during DZRH sa Breaktime last Wednesday, Guiguinto, Bulacan Mayor Agatha Paula "Agay" Cruz proudly shared their "PESO sa Barangay: Trabaho ba Hanap mo? Tara, Usap Tayo!"
Under the program, Cruz said they have assigned local recruitment agencies to offer citizens free employment counseling and training to easily land a job.
"Lahat po doon mayroon po kaming local recruitment authority, meron po kami doong inooffer na mga trainings from TESDA as our partner. Scholarships na partner na rin po namin yung takagang mga kompanya na nagbihbigay ng libreng training para ditreso trabaho na kaagad sa mga interesado," said Cruz.
Cruz also noted that the program also offers job opportunities abroad, as they also give livelihood programs to the people in barangays.
"So far, mayroon lang po kaming 14 na barangays dito sa bayan ng Guiguinto, nakakapito na po kami, so kalahati at tuloy-tuloy ang programa halos phang every week mayroon binabababaan para mas malapit sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho," Guiguinto Mayor noted.
To fully encourage their citizens, Cruz said that they also assist their people in attending job fairs and trainings, such as offering them free food and transportation.
Cruz said that aside from job opportunities, they also offer additional capital for existing small businesses, which could also help them in their livelihood.
"Through these continuous strategies, continuous po yung trend na pababa ng pababa yung aming unemployment rate. Nag-iincrease na rin po somehow yung purchasing power ng ating mga kababayan," Mayor Cruz remarked.
Also sharing their program under the PESO was Tigbauan, Iloilo Mayor Virgilio T. Teruel, who proudly shared their award of being the Best PESO Office in the province of Iloilo in 2023.
According to Teruel, they got the award as a result of the hard work and perseverance of their PESO office.
Among the programs being offered in Tigbuan was "Comprehensive Job Placement Services," which aims to maintain data-based job vacancies and provide skills assessment and career counseling to job applicants as well as senior high school students or incoming college students to see where they are suitable to work or enroll in college.
Teruel noted that Tigbauans' PESO office also offers a skills training and development program in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Similar to Guguinto and Bulacan, Teruel said they also offer free transportation for their citizens to easily attend job fairs.
"Para wala na silang gastos pa, the LGU and the PESO office see to oit na may librang sakay sila papunta sa City," said the mayor.
Government agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector have contributed to an effective employment program, according to Teruel.
The Tigbuan LGU also made sure to be accessible to all their citizens looking for jobs, as they have social media accounts that demand jobs, which could lead to 'job matching processes'.
With the result of positive action, a positive result has been seen in Tigbauan's economy
"Maliban sa malaking tulong sa mga indibidwal na makahanap ng trabaho, malaki rin ang naitulong sa mga magandang programa pang-empleyo ng PESO sa paglakas sa aming lokal na ekonomiya. Sa pagkakaroon ng mas maraming trabaho at maayos na kabuhayan, ang aming mga mamamayan ay nagkakaroon ng buying of purchasing capacity para sa kanilang pangangailangan."
Furthermore, Teruel said demand also increased in local industries and business products.
As part of the Labor Day celebration, the two LGUs expressed their acknowledgment to the workforce of all employees of the country.
"Binabati natin ang lahat ng mga masisipag na nagsisikhay para sa kanilang sarili para sakanilang pamilya na mga manggagawang bayaning Pilipino. Sana lahat tayo ay pagpalain, but higit sa lahat ay maging pagpapala rin tayo para sa ibang tao," said Mayor Cruz.
"Kayo po ang mga bayani ng lipunan kayo ang nagbibigay buhay at lakas sa ating ekonomiya. Patuloy nating suportahan ang inyong mga pangaangailangan at patuloy ipaglaban ang inyong karapatan bilang manggagawa," Mayor Teruel remarked.
