The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday vowed to continue assisting displaced workers of Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), formerly known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the government will continue to help these workers through career fairs and provision of livelihood projects.
Laguesma said the DOLE National Capital Region has been regularly conducting job fairs for various sectors in coordination with Public Employment Service Offices and other offices.
The DOLE chief added the move is also in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to converge employment and livelihood programs of the government.
On Friday, the DOLE wrapped up the last day of the Career Con 2025, which recorded at least 18,000 registrants, featured an extensive job fair with more than 8,000 vacancies offered by over 150 participating employers, a one-stop-shop of government services, resume clinics and interview coaching, and career discussions, among others.
President Marcos graced the event at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday, hosted by Jobstreet Philippines to expand opportunities for the Filipino workforce.
He said the government is sparing no effort in ensuring that Filipinos get quality jobs.
He underscored the importance of the convergence of public and private sector services to boost employment.
“Pakaunti na lang nang pakaunti ang hindi empleyadong Pilipino ngunit hindi pa kami tapos doon. Kailangan kung anuman ang hawak nilang trabaho, dapat ‘yung tinatawag na quality job na may potential na ma-promote, na maging mas maganda, o kung sakali man ay magtatayo ng sariling negosyo na tutulungan po natin upang makapag-expand (The number of unemployed Filipinos is on a downtrend but it does not end there. Whatever their job is, it should be a quality job which has a potential for promotion or betterment or it would lead to them being able to have their own businesses, which we would help expand),” he added.
Meanwhile, thousands of Manilans were hired-on-the-spot at the three simultaneous job fairs held in the city on Friday.
In a separate statement, Mayor Honey Lacuna congratulated the newly-employed Manila residents in the job fairs done in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) headed by Fernan Bermejo and various public companies.
The three job fairs are as follows: “Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas” job fair which was held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila; the “Kalinga sa Maynila” job fair held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the corner of Escoda and A. Linao Streets in Paco, Manila; and the “Mega Job Fair” held at the Arroceros Forest Park in Lawton, Ermita, Manila, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At the Rizal Coliseum, a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) skills demo and free training was also conducted, along with the one-stop-shop pre-employment documentation and advisory services. (PNA)