Iloilo job fair hires 22, qualifies 333 applicants

Twenty-two jobseekers were hired on the spot while 333 others qualified for available positions during the Department of Labor and Employment Region VI’s Trabaho Agad Job Fair on Oct. 10 at Robinsons Iloilo.

The job fair drew more than 1,000 applicants, reflecting continued demand for employment opportunities and underscoring the role of recruitment events in directly connecting workers with companies that have immediate manpower requirements.

Of the 22 applicants hired on the spot, 11 were women and 11 were men, with most securing jobs in manpower services and customer service representative positions.

Another 59 applicants were classified as near-hires, meaning they remained under consideration and could secure employment after completing additional recruitment requirements.

The results show that while only a portion of applicants immediately received job offers, hundreds moved further into the recruitment process, potentially expanding the eventual employment impact beyond the 22 same-day hires.

Among those who found work was 28-year-old Andrew Peñaranda of Pototan, Iloilo, who was hired as a janitor by Legacy Ventures after learning about the job fair through DOLE’s social media page.

Peñaranda said the advance announcement allowed him to prepare his résumé and review participating companies and vacancies that matched his qualifications.

“Sa panahon ngayon, Ma’am, mahirap talaga maghanap ng trabaho. Kaya po malaking tulong ang Job Fair ng DOLE, kung saan ang mga unemployed na kagaya ko ay nabibigyan ng oportunidad at pagkakataong makapili ng trabahong naaayon sa kanilang skills,” he shared.

Peñaranda also encouraged other jobseekers to follow DOLE’s official Facebook page so they can receive updates on upcoming job fairs and other employment opportunities.

Aside from recruitment, the event served as a one-stop government service center, with 196 jobseekers availing themselves of services from participating agencies.

The agencies included the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Statistics Authority.

Also participating were the Professional Regulation Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Information and Communications Technology and Department of Trade and Industry.

Providing these services alongside recruitment can reduce the time and cost for applicants who need government records, registrations or other requirements connected with employment.

The Trabaho Agad Job Fair was led by DOLE Region VI Regional Director Atty. Sixto “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr. in partnership with Robinsons Iloilo.

DOLE said the activity forms part of the government’s employment facilitation efforts under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, with the aim of connecting jobseekers directly with prospective employers.

The Oct. 10 results also highlight the need for sustained coordination among government agencies, private employers and other stakeholders, particularly as jobseekers navigate recruitment requirements and employers look for workers whose skills match available positions.

For Western Visayas, such employment programs are especially relevant because their effectiveness depends not only on the number of vacancies offered but also on how many applicants are eventually matched with stable jobs that provide adequate income and opportunities for advancement.