The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has collaborated with other government agencies to bring the ‘Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas para sa 4Ps’ job fair to San Fernando City in Pampanga on Monday (April 21).
Some 3,000 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) joined the job fair to explore employment opportunities offered by 21 private employers invited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
According to Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera of the DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG), the activity is part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to ensure that 4Ps beneficiaries will have access to opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency.
“Ang job fair po na ito ay produkto ng pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na matulungan ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4Ps na magkaroon ng trabaho na syang tutulong sa kanila para makaalis sa kahirapan at maging maayos ang pamumuhay ng kanilang mga pamilya,” Undersecretary Cabrera said.
As of press time, 135 job fair participants were hired-on-the-spot (HOTS). They are expected to receive pre-employment assistance amounting to Php5,000 subject to the assessment of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
The first HOTs in the job fair was Jenalyn Parel, a 4Ps beneficiary from Candaba, Pampanga.
“Malaking tulong ang Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas dahil nakakuha ako ng trabaho na malaking tulong sa pang araw-araw namin ng aking mga anak,” Jenalyn 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.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), meanwhile, distributed vegetable seeds to the job fair attendees.
The participants also availed of the laboratory and other pre-employment medical services offered by the Department of Health (DOH).
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducted skills training to help the jobseekers gain knowledge on finding employment or starting their own businesses.
Other DSWD officials present at the event were Assistant Secretary Marites Maristela of the CCTG; Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar; Director Gemma Gabuya of the 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO), 4Ps NPMO-Deputy Program Manager Rosalie Dagulo; and Regional Director Venus Rebuldela of DSWD Field Office 3-Central Luzon. (AKDL)