Independence day job fair in Dagupan opens 7,000 job opportunities

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Wednesday 13th of June 2012

DAGUPAN CITY, June 13 -- Over 7,000 job opportunities awaited jobseekers in the Independence Day Jobs Fair held today by the Department of Labor and Employment at the Nepo Mall in Dagupan City.

Labor Officer Emmanuel Hagad of DOLE Central Pangasinan office welcomed hundreds of applicants in the opening day today in line with the 114th celebration of Philippine Independence.

“A job fair is one of DOLE’s strategies to facilitate the employment of jobseekers and help address the country’s unemployment problems,” Hagad said in his welcome message.

The Nepo Mall management, which is hosting the event for the first time, took pride in holding the activity as it provided the environment for commerce and entrepreneurship.

“Landing on a good job would entail more money and sweat and we are happy to help you in your job search and matching process”, said Junior Mall Manager Walurich Dacanay, adding that when money changes hand, the economy moves.

City Information Officer Ana Louise Velasco, representing Mayor Benjamin Lim, who came earlier, said endeavours like job fairs are worthy of praise because they open doors of opportunities not just in the Philippines but also abroad.

Meanwhile, DOLE Regional Director Grace Ursua expressed her gratitude to all the employers and jobseekers “who are gathered in one roof to help one another.”

She said about 3,000 of the job vacancies are from business process outsourcing firms like call centers, and a beverage company, which will soon open a plant in Sta. Barbara town.

Foreign employment are also being offered by countries like Singapore, Jordan, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, she added.

In previous fairs, Ursua noted that about 10-15 percent of applicants are hired on the spot while the rest are hired within 30 days after the application upon completion of the company’s requirements.

A one-stop shop was also made available during the fair for easier access to employment facilitation services such as application support documents from the National Statistics Office, Social Security System, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, PhilHealth, and the Professional Regulations Commission. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)