BUTUAN CITY – A total of 521 applicants flocked the social hall of Tandag City capitol building on June 19, 2013 for the job fair spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Local Government of Tandag City.
The objective of the job fair was to access the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries to livelihood and employment opportunities; hence, they were the primary beneficiaries of the activity. The applicants came from the municipalities of Lanuza, San Miguel, Marihatag, Hinatuan, Tagbina, and Lingig inSurigaodel Sur.
Before the job fair, the participants were given a Pre-Employment Seminar and Livelihood Orientation (PESO) on June 17-18, 2013. The participants were oriented on how to develop their skills, knowledge and ability in case they choose to work in the wider field of business in the community. Through this, Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries were equipped with the necessary skills for them to thrive and to access to employment and livelihood opportunities.
Surigao del Sur governor Hon. Johnny Pimentel, DOLE Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales and DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli attended the said activity.
Director Brigoli, thanked the employers and agencies who participated in the job fair. She also emphasized that the partnership between the DSWD, DOLE and the employers will not stop after this particular job fair. “Hindi matatapos ang partnership na ito today, hindi matatapos ang pagpupursige at pagtutulongan natin, kasi para ito sa benefits ng ating mga beneficiaries para maging maayos ang kanilang pamumuhay.” Dir. Brigoli said.
One of the applicants is Elona Simbajon, 21 years old from San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. “First time nako ni nakaapil og job fair. Nalipay ko nga kaming mga benepisyaryo sa Pantawid Pamilya ang usa sa mga giprayoridad niininga activity (this is my first time to attend a Job Fair, and I am happy that we, the beneficiaries of PantawidPamilyang are the priority of this activity).”
Even she was not a grantee of the program because she is already beyond 14 years old when the program was implemented in their municipality, Elona still benefited from the educational grants of Pantawid Pamilya for it helps ease the burden of sending them to school. Her parents were able to save some money to send her to college. “I may not be a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya, but it helped me finish college. The money that was supposed to be used to send my younger siblings to school were instead used to help me finish college because the government has given us cash assistance through Pantawid Pamilya.”
Elona is the first to finish college in the family. She graduated Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Surigao del Sur Sur State University. Full of determination, Elona hopes she could get employment in one of the agencies in the region. In case she will not be taken in, she said she will not stop looking for a job. I want to help my parents in the education expenses of my younger siblings.”Elona applied as teller for the Cantilan Bank. She is included in the list of participants for interview.
The job fair in Tandag City was also participated in by 8 employers/agencies. Out of 521 applicants, 166 are for further interview and 22 applicants were hired on the spot for overseas employment. # # # (Social Marketing Unit)
