Wanted: 17T local, 10T overseas workers for Iloilo, Bacolod
A piece of good news for job seekers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – Region VI announced that thousands of job vacancies await job hunters in Western Visayas.
DOLE regional director Aida Estabillo said that in Iloilo, several companies are looking for an estimated 3,000 workers for local hiring and 10,000 for overseas work.
In Bacolod City, DOLE pegged the job vacancies at 14,236.
Estabillo made the announcement relative to the May 1 Labor Day celebration.
In Iloilo City, a jobs fair will be held at SM City mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
A total of 65 local companies and 15 overseas firms are expected to participate in the jobs fair.
On the other hand, Bacolod City will have 35 companies looking for prospective employees.
Although the vacancies would not be enough as opposed to the unemployment rate in Western Visayas, but it would mitigate the situation.
Presently, records from the National Statistics Office (NSO) released January 2010 showed that the unemployment rate stands at 6% or 193,000 individuals supposedly looking for jobs.
“The jobs fair is just one of the activities that we will have. It won’t be enough since there are only 5-10% of the vacancies are hired during the jobs fair,” Estabillo said.
That’s why, she added that the 90-95% of the vacancies are looking for workers who need further training and re-skilling.
NSO record claimed that there are 3.217 million employed individuals in the region. Of the said number, 26.6% are considered underemployed.
Meanwhile, Estabillo explained that there are more vacancies in Bacolod City because of the number of call centers looking for additional employees.
In one company alone, Estabillo said that the job vacancies stand at 10,000.
As it is, she also acknowledged that barely 5% of call center agents-wannabes are only hired during the jobs fair.
“It has something to do with our English proficiency. The requirement of the job doesn’t match with the qualification of the job seekers. The final say is with the employer. So, we have to look into this not only in call centers but on other jobs,” Estabillo said.
She added that they are mulling of coming up with a a training to match the qualification of the job seekers to that of the requirement of the job.
Livelihood fair
Aside from the jobs fair, DOLE-Region VI will also have a livelihood fair on May 1.
Estabillo said that there will be showcase of products of some DOLE-assisted projects.
In Iloilo, the Guimaras local government unit will showcase cashew products, bags, and model galleon.
LGU Lambunao, on the other hand, will show their tailoring products while LGU – Igbaras will have mango processed products.
Dumangas will have their bangus products while Western Visayas College of Science and Technology will also show their tailoring products and processed foods.
In Negros Occidental, Toboso town will have vermi casting (organic fertilizer) and La Castellana has their ginger ale.
The municipality of Valladolid will have their farm products (vegetables) and Pontevedra will have their processed products.
