Isabela – Two hundred fifty (250) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Sustainable Livelihood Program Employment Facilitation (SLP EF) track beneficiaries attended the employment fair organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 2’s (DSWD FO2) Municipal Action Team of Tumauini, Isabela, on January 31, 2024.
SLP Monitoring Project Development Officer Lyra T. Labog from MAT Tumauini mentioned that the idea to initiate a job fair sprung from the result of their monitoring visits which revealed issues on unemployment, mismatched skills with their current job and low salary among SLP beneficiaries.
Thus, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Tumauini, the idea materialized into a town-wide job fair catering both SLP and 4Ps beneficiaries to explore various career options and secure employment.
Public and private sectors such as Baker’s Percent, Mercury Drugstore, Staff Search Asia Services Cooperative, Sanford Marketing (Savemore), Tam-An Banaue Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Pacific Star International Employment Agency Corporation pitched in their employment opportunities that the beneficiaries may apply.
In an interview, Alfa Bucu, 35 years-old, beneficiary of 4Ps and SLP from Malamag West, Tumauini, Isabela expressed her gratitude as she was hired instantly during the activity.
“Masaya ako dahil natanggap ako sa trabaho. Malaking bagay para sa akin ang trabahong ito dahil matutulungan ko na rin ang asawa ko at mas maibibigay ko ang pangangailangan ng mga anak ko. Maraming salamat po,” she shared.
[I am happy because I was accepted for the job. This job means a lot to me because I can now help my husband, and I can better provide for the needs of my children. Thank you very much!]
Apart from the employment opportunities available, the beneficiaries also availed serves from the Social Security System, PhilHealth, Municipal Civil Registry Office, and Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office who were also present to offer their services and provide support to the attendees.
SLP’s Employment Facilitation Track is a one-time assistance grant provided to beneficiaries who are mainly from 4Ps. Enrollment of such track can be done through technical and vocational skills training; job network services, which links the program participants to locally available jobs that are appropriate to their skills and competencies; and submission of employment requirements.
This activity established a precedent for the development of similar initiatives, in line with the department’s objective to enhance the well-being of the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged sectors of the community.
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