Iloilo City opens job recruitment and aid service hubs

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo City government, led by Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, launched two flagship programs on Monday, Aug. 18, aimed at expanding employment access and streamlining social services for residents.

The new Recruitment Center, located on the second floor of Iloilo City Hall, serves as a centralized hub for local, overseas, and business process outsourcing (BPO) job opportunities.

This is the second such facility launched by the city after the first at SM City Iloilo, with a third expected to open at Robinsons Mall.

Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay said the center will operate on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering jobseekers direct access to employers.

It is expected to open more than 5,000 jobs by October in logistics, industrial, agriculture, and BPO sectors, along with 235 community livelihood and workforce development programs.

“We promise that our employment will be accessible for everybody, and we will make sure there will always be jobs available here in Iloilo City,” Umadhay said.

The city will also roll out the “Level Up U” Workforce Development Program, designed to enhance the skills and global competitiveness of young people and jobseekers.

Umadhay noted that the first recruitment center has already facilitated more than 6,000 local and overseas job placements since its opening.

Applicants may walk in and access services such as résumé preparation and document processing, although officials advise bringing required documents in advance.

Alongside the jobs initiative, the city also inaugurated the Uswag Atipan Center, a one-stop hub for health, housing, education, livelihood, and other social services.

Located on the seventh floor of city hall, the center aims to provide inclusive and accessible support to residents in need.

“This center is more than just a program — it is a promise,” said Goygoy Acap, Atipan Center manager.

“Today, we open the doors of the Uswag Pag-Atipan Center, a place where compassion meets action and public service becomes personal,” he added.

“This is not just an office — this is a home for every Ilonggo who needs a listening ear, a helping hand, and a community that genuinely cares,” Acap said.

The Atipan Center offers medical consultations, maternity and dental care, financial and burial assistance, livelihood training, scholarships, and job placement services in partnership with PESO and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Mayor Treñas-Chu said the initiative was shaped by her visits to barangays and consultations with residents.

“We listen to the people to know what more they need from the city,” she said.

“We will make sure to deliver this to the Ilonggos,” she added.