President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with some members of the Cabinet, took the “Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas” to Antipolo City in Rizal province on April 4 (Friday) as part of the Chief Executive’s earlier commitment to bring the job fair nationwide to help the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
In his message to the more than 1,800 4Ps members at the Antipolo Educational Sports Hub, the President emphasized the importance of a whole-of-nation-approach in responding to the needs of Filipinos.
The President said the successful job fair was made possible through the collective work of national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and non-government organizations (NGOs).
“Tawag natin ay job fair ngunit ang katotohanan, hindi lamang trabaho ang dinadala lalo na ng DOLE, pati DSWD, pati iba’t-ibang ahensiya. Dahil po, baka narinig po ninyo, sa administrasyon pong ito, kinikilala natin na yung mga problema ng ating mga kababayan, mga pangkaraniwang problema ng ating mga kababayan, kadalasan kapag marami na, hindi malulutas ng isang ahensiya lamang. Kaya lahat po ng Departamento, lahat ng ahensiya, sinasama natin sa lahat po na programang tulad nito,” President Marcos told the job fair attendees.
Aside from the nine participating employers pooled by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the other agencies that provided their services and programs during the job fair were the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Social Security System, PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Pag-Ibig.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in his message prior to the main program said the job fair is the initiative of the President as part of long-term help for the 4Ps beneficiaries.
According to the DSWD chief, the President knows that the 4Ps beneficiaries continue to experience hardships in their daily lives, prompting the holding of job fairs.
“Sa tuwing nagkikita kami ng Pangulo, lagi niyang tinatanong sa akin kung kamusta kayo at ano pa ba ang pwede nating gawin upang maibsan ang inyong pinagdadaanan sa araw araw. Alam namin na mahirap ang buhay pero nandito ang gobyerno, lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno para matulungan kayo,” Secretary Gatchalian told the 4Ps members.
Although the 4Ps beneficiaries receive assistance from the program, the job fair also provided them with employment opportunities which are important in achieving the goal of leading them to self-sufficiency.
“Bagamat may natatanggap kayong education grant, may natatanggap kayong health grant, ang mahalaga meron din tayong trabaho na pangmatagalang tulong sa inyo ng pamahalaan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Aside from the free services available in the job fair, Secretary Gatchalian pointed out that all 4Ps beneficiaries participating in the activity received Php3,000 as employment aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD as instructed by the President.
The 4Ps beneficiaries who were hired on the spot (HOTS) will be assessed by the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) on their eligibility for a Php5,000 pre-employment assistance.
As of press time, 59 job seekers had been hired with 58 of them 4Ps beneficiaries, while 259 had been assessed as qualified for employment.
The participants were also able to avail free medical services from the DOH while the DOLE also brought its Tulong Panghanabuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) as mentioned by the President.
Also present at the job fair were DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares III, and Rizal Governor Nina Ynares.