28 hired on the spot at job fair offering 8,740 vacancies

ILOILO CITY — At least 28 jobseekers were hired on the spot during the Tara Trabaho, G? Mega Job Fair at Casa Real de Iloilo on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, where employers offered 8,740 local and overseas job vacancies.

The figure, recorded as of 2 p.m., represented the initial hiring results of the event organized to connect Ilonggo jobseekers with employment opportunities in the Philippines and abroad.

The job fair brought together 21 local companies and nine overseas recruitment agencies, offering 3,953 local positions and 4,787 overseas vacancies.

Overseas opportunities accounted for nearly 55% of the available jobs, while local positions made up the remaining 45%.

Local employers sought applicants for positions such as call center agents, drivers, sales clerks, cashiers, production helpers, service crew members, and customer assistants.

Overseas vacancies included jobs for household service workers, waiters, waitresses, electricians, painters, nurses, cleaners, and food and coffee preparation staff.

Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Dr. Cynthia P. Dario said the initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Public Employment Service Manager, forms part of the Iloilo provincial government’s continuing efforts to expand employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.

The job fair also sought to make recruitment services more accessible by bringing employers and government agencies together in one venue.

Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias emphasized the role of employment generation in the province’s goal of developing a stronger middle class.

He said investing in young people and helping them secure productive employment remain important despite economic challenges and rising living costs.

“One of our development priorities is to build a strong middle class. Despite this economic situation, this crisis, and inflation, we must keep moving forward. And we can only build a strong middle class if we invest in our youth,” Banias said.

Among the successful applicants was Bea Trizia Yee, who became the first jobseeker hired on the spot during the event.

Yee said she felt overwhelmed upon learning that she had secured employment.

Beyond job matching and recruitment interviews, the event featured a one-stop assistance center where applicants could access government services related to employment, documentation, labor concerns, and overseas work requirements.

Participating agencies included the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

These agencies provided employment-related assistance, allowing applicants to address documentary and other requirements without having to visit multiple government offices.

For overseas applicants, access to the DMW and OWWA was particularly relevant because these agencies oversee migrant worker protection, recruitment regulation, and assistance programs.

The initiative also complemented the provincial government’s broader employment efforts aimed at connecting jobseekers with employers and improving access to livelihood opportunities.

The job fair was organized in partnership with the Office of Senate President Win Gatchalian.

The 28 applicants hired on the spot represented the initial results as of 2 p.m., with the final number of successful applicants still to be determined.