Independence Day

MANILA, Philippines—Providing jobs for Filipinos is nothing out of the usual for the government and for business, but in this time of global economic crisis, it’s a form of heroism, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In a break with tradition, the President marked Independence Day in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, launching the government’s three-day nationwide jobs fair and distributing livelihood grants to displaced workers.

“To those looking for a parade in the Luneta, we say, this year’s flag-raising focuses on Mindanao and jobs. Heroism is not obsolete. It comes in many forms in different times. When the nation needs us, it is an opportunity to become heroes today,” she said in her speech.

Past Independence Day celebrations called for the President of the country to preside at the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument of the national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta. The rites were usually capped by an elaborate hours-long parade on Roxas Boulevard.

On Friday, Ms Arroyo decided to observe the traditional Rizal Park rites in Koronadal’s counterpart, presiding at the flag-raising and wreath-laying before the hero’s monument there. Afterwards, the President distributed employment contracts, training vouchers and livelihood grants under the emergency employment program.

3-day job fairs

The three-day job fairs, called the Mega Job Fair, which was simultaneously held in several other regions, sought to give thousands of laid-off workers the opportunity to apply for 52,880 vacancies in government, 60,616 in private companies and 200,293 overseas jobs.

Ms Arroyo vowed more investments in human infrastructure aimed at creating new jobs, providing livelihood assistance, and retraining retrenched workers to help them find new employment.

To enable more people to learn new skills from the Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), she said the requirements had been simplified.

One need only be at least 15 years old, the President said.

“If you are 15 years old and above, a Filipino citizen, and have a desire to learn a skill that will help you find a new job or start a business, then you are qualified to apply,” she said.

She urged the unemployed to visit the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other government offices to inquire about job opportunities.

She said the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) has so far benefited 8,500 individuals in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) alone, she said.

Back in the capital in the evening, Ms Arroyo hosted an Independence Day reception for the members of the diplomatic corps and Congress in Malacañang, highlighted by a rigodon de honor.

She was also set to inspect the construction work on the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 North Extension Project on EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue) in Muñoz, Quezon City, and then take the Metro Rail Transit from North Edsa, Quezon City, to Magallanes, Makati, to “touch base with the commuters.”

New graduates seek jobs

In Legaspi City, new graduates from the six provinces of the Bicol region flocked to the Mega Job and Livelihood Fair set up by the DOLE at the Albay Astrodome which opened as early as 5 a.m. for registration.

“I came here as early as 4 a.m. and I am very expectant of the promised jobs, which the DOLE-Bicol has been announcing on radio all over the region. I hope I finally land a job though I am a fresh graduate,” said Ronito Rebonar, a civil engineering graduate from Masbate.

Michelle Ann Cadiz, a nursing graduate from Catanduanes, said she would try her luck even while she still had to secure a nursing license.

“I was informed that there are also jobs for the nursing graduates, even for those who are still securing their licenses and pertinent supporting papers,” she said.

28 local employers, 17 overseas

A total of 28 local employers and 17 overseas employers participated in the one-day jobs fair, which offered nearly 50,000 domestic and overseas job openings, according to Raymond P. Escalante, information officer of DOLE-Bicol.

He said job applicants who availed of early registration at the Provincial Employment Service Offices (PESO) reached some 3,000. He expected this figure to increase.

Aside from the job fair, 13 exhibitors participated in the livelihood component of the Independence Day activities, said Ernesto Bihis, DOLE-Bicol regional director.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya was the guest of honor during the day-long activity, which also included the awarding of employment contracts, livelihood assistance, grants and scholarship vouchers.

Escalante said job seekers who brought with them complete credentials and pertinent documents had an easier time applying for the jobs they wanted.

In Calamba, Laguna, thousands of job applicants flocked the three-day job fair at the city hall.

Simultaneous

Ignacio Sanqui Jr., DOLE provincial head, said about 8,000 job openings were available, with 26 to 30 local companies hiring production operators, office personnel and call center agents.

Simultaneous job fairs were also held in the towns of Kawit and Imus in Cavite province.

A few hours after the fair opened, there were already a thousand applicants, mostly displaced workers, Sanqui said. He expected the number to surge to 3,000 to 4,500 by Sunday.

Aries Villaruel, 27, a service mechanic in Caloocan City, took advantage of the nonworking holiday to look for an alternative job in Laguna where his family lives to save on transportation.

Unlike most applicants busy filling out job applications, Eric Berano, 38, was focused on the procedures and ingredients in making calamansi soap, part of a number of demonstrations being conducted by CLEEP.

Also Army info drive

He copied the step-by-step procedure on a piece of paper, saying he wanted to try it at home.

“You could buy the ingredients in pieces anyway,” he said, not really worried about the capital that he might need.

The job fair also became a venue for the information drive of the Philippine Army.

“We are celebrating Independence Day by showing a free documentary film and offering free blood pressure check-ups here,” said Lt. Maria Lita Umandam of the 202nd Brigade.

The military showed “Kawal ang Tatay ko, Proud Ako,” a short documentary about the lives of soldiers. It was part of the free orientation it was giving for those interested in applying for a job in the Army.

In Iloilo City, thousands of job-seekers from Western Visayas flocked to the opening of a three-day job fair at the Amigo Plaza mall.

Fresh graduates and displaced workers sought to fill around 42,000 local and foreign job openings.

Around 10,000 applicants were expected, according to Amalia Judicpa, DOLE Western Visayas public information officer.

Displaced workers as priority

Ninety-five government agencies and private employers participated in the fair that will last until Sunday.

The vacancies include 1,897 government positions, 3,406 private employment, and 36,743 for hiring abroad.

Judicpa said priority would be given to displaced workers or their dependents. With reports from Rey M. Nasol and Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon, and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas