Some 1,800 members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) participated in the ‘Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas’ job fair held at the Bulacan State University in Malolos City on Saturday (April 26).
As of press time, the job caravan has recorded 235 hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) who have immediately bagged jobs from over 20 companies invited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In her short address during the activity, Regional Director (RD) Venus Rebuldela of the DSWD Field Office (FO) 3 – Central Luzon told participants to seize the opportunities made available by various government agencies during job fairs.
“Alam po natin na hindi naging madali ang paglalakbay ninyo bilang mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Pero ngayon, narito tayo sa isang mahalagang yugto — ang panahon ng paglipat mula sa pagtanggap ng ayuda tungo sa pagiging mas matatag, mas independent, at mas empowered na mga mamamayan,” FO-3 RD Rebuldela told the 4Ps members at the job caravan.
The ‘Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas’ is a nationwide initiative of the DSWD, DOLE, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), and other key agencies.
The job fair is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to help graduating 4Ps beneficiaries attain employment and reach the level of self-sufficiency.
Daisy Tresvalles, one of the 4Ps members who was hired-on-the-spot, was given the opportunity to secure employment and rejoin the workforce after a two-year hiatus.
“Taos pusong pasasalamat sa bumubuo ng Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas. Iba po yung saya ko ng ma hired on the spot matapos po ang dalawang taon na walang trabaho ay dumating po ang pagkakataong ito na muli akong makakapagtrabaho,” Daisy said.
Frank Gil Alvaira, another hired-on-the spot jobseeker, also recognized the importance of government aid to people like him who are determined to pool their strengths and skills to support their families.
“Malaking blessing at opportunity po ang ibinigay ng Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas para sa akin, bilang hired on the spot na production operator. Higit sa lahat salamat din po sa assistance mula sa DSWD at SLP may pang-umpisa po ako,” Frank happily said.
Each job fair participant received cash aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to help them secure their pre-employment requirements.
Upon assessment, additional cash aid may be given to the hired-on-the-spot under the DSWD- Sustainable Livelihood Program’s (SLP) Employment Track assistance.
As part of various government services made available at the job fair, the DA set up ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ stalls and distributed vegetable seeds to the attendees.
The participants also availed of the laboratory and other pre-employment medical services offered by the DOH.
Other DSWD officials present at the event were Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera and Asst.Secretary Marites Maristela of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG) and Director Gemma Gabuya of the 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO). (LSJ)