President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with his Cabinet members, brought the 9th leg of the ‘Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas para sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)’ job fair to Biñan City, Laguna on Saturday (March 22).
In his message during the event, President Marcos reaffirmed that the continuing initiative is part of the whole-of-government approach in helping 4Ps members toward self-sufficiency.
“Asahan po ninyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay walang ginawa kundi mag-isip at magtrabaho upang mapaganda ang takbo ng pamahalaan. Para mapabilis, mapaganda, at maparami ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan para sa inyo, para sa ating mga kababayan,” President Marcos told the participants at the Alonte Sports Arena.
The ‘Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ job fair is a nationwide initiative led by the Office of the President (OP) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Agriculture (DA).
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the job fair is a reflection of the entire government’s unyielding commitment to equip 4Ps with services and resources they need not just to thrive, but improve their socioeconomic condition, and eventually stand on their own.
“Itong araw na to patunay pa rin ito ng pagmamahal ng pangulo sa 4ps beneficiaries natin, alam niya na importante yung tulong pinansiyal yung ayuda pero importante din yung pagkakaroon ng trabaho. Kaya nga inatasan kami ng aming pangulo ng DOLE na masigurado na mahanapan ng trabaho ang mga 4ps beneficiaries,” Secretary Gatchalian told the attendees.
“Buwan buwan, linggo, linggo, may mga job fair na idinadaos para sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries natin sa buong bansa,” the DSWD chief added.
More than 2,000 4Ps beneficiaries from Laguna participated in pre-employment orientation activities from partner agencies to help them seek employment that aligns with their skill set, experience, and interests.
A total of 26 companies invited by the DOLE opened up 6,502 positions for 4Ps job-seekers.
Each participating beneficiary received Php3,000 cash assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to help them secure their pre-employment requirements.
As of press time, 45 job-seekers were hired on the spot (HOTS).
One of the HOTS was Charlyn Laylay, a 20 year-old former 4Ps monitored child who bagged a position from Gde Integrated Hr Management Solutions, Inc.
Charlyn could not contain her excitement on her first ever job, citing that she anticipates to help resolve their family’s financial woes so they can finally exit from program.
“Sobrang gandang opportunity rin po talaga ng trabaho po para makaalis na rin po sa 4Ps and mabigyan naman po ang family ng opportunity na sila naman po,” Charlyn said.
Cynthia Castillo, another HOTS, was very pleased as she was granted an opportunity to work again through the job fair.
“Na-hire po ako bilang isang housekeeper kaya sobrang saya ko po. Matagal din po akong natigil sa trabaho kaya sobrang laking oportunidad po na ako ay na-hire on the spot dito sa job fair,” Cynthia said.
Cynthia and Charlyn are among those who were hired-on-the-spot and are slated to receive pre-employment assistance based on the assessment by the personnel of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
The DOH, on the other hand, provided free medical services to the participants.
The DOLE provided cash assistance to beneficiaries of its livelihood programs.
The event also featured a one-stop shop for pre-employment documentation and advisory services from different government agencies, including the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth.
The DSWD officials present at the job fair were Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera and Asst. Secretary Marites Maristela of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG): Asst. Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Aguilar; Asst. Secretary Paul Ledesma; Director Gemma Gabuya of the 4Ps National Program Management Office; Regional Director Barry Chua and Assistant Regional Director Myla Gatchalian of Field Office-CALABARZON.
Accompanying the President were Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr.; Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Secretary Teodoro Herbosa of the Department of Health (DOH); and Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation (PAPA) Secretary Larry Gadon.
Local government officials of Laguna also witnessed the event including Mayor Arman Dimaguila and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte of Biñan; Mayor Dennis Hain of Cabuyao; and Congressman Dan Fernandez. (LSJ)