Job seekers flock to DPWH Job Fair
More than 600 job seekers took part in the Job Fair for Construction Workers conducted recently by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas.
DPWH 6 Director Rolando Asis said some 116 applicants were hired on the spot.
A total of 18 construction firms participated in the one-day job fair held at the DPWH 6 Compound at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City.
Asis said the hired workers will be working with the various construction firms that implement the on-going infrastructure projects of the government in the region.
He also disclosed that biddings for some 166 pump priming projects set to be implemented in the region in the first half of this year are still on-going as of press time.
These pump-priming projects, costing some P3,125,399,000 billion, involve the construction and improvement of bridges, road, river control system and buildings.
“That is why we have around 9,000 openings for construction related works until June of this year, which will give boost to the job generation program of the department, in line with the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP)of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” said Asis.
CLEEP aims to protect the vulnerable sectors from threat and consequences of reduced or lost income as a consequence of the global economic crisis by providing emergency employment and livelihood projects.
Asis said a help desk will be put up at the DPWH regional office to further accommodate job seekers who were not able to make it during the job fair last February 23.
On the other hand, National Constructors Association of the Philippines (NACAP) Panay Chapter President Engr. Ronnie Primaylon said that they are more than happy to be a part of this undertaking of the government that will provide employment opportunities to workers particularly those affected by the current global recession.
NACAP, along with the Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Construction Association supported the job fair.(PIA)