Over 10,000 Jobs Available at DOLE-6 Labor Day Fair

By Mariela Angella Oladive

More than 10,000 employment opportunities await jobseekers at the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6 (DOLE-6) region-wide job fair on May 1 at Robinsons Place Iloilo, commemorating the 123rd Labor Day celebrations.

DOLE-6 has confirmed over 9,000 job openings as of April 24, with 8,033 local positions from 99 participating employers and 916 overseas opportunities from five international companies.

The event has already attracted 1,642 pre-registered applicants, with numbers expected to increase as Labor Day approaches.

“This year’s Labor Day celebration is especially significant as it also commemorates the anniversary of the Labor Code of the Philippines, which continues to uphold and protect the rights of Filipino workers,” said DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. during a press briefing.

Job opportunities span various sectors including customer service, accounting, marketing and skilled trades such as driving, mechanics and welding.

Industries with the most openings include administrative and support services, wholesale and retail trade, construction, financial services, transport and storage, and manufacturing.

Additional participating sectors include agriculture, real estate, information and communications, hospitality, and health and wellness.

To improve accessibility, DOLE-6 partnered with the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative to offer free rides within Iloilo City.

Jobseekers from Passi City can access free transportation from Vallacar Transit/Ceres Liner by presenting their registration number.

Online pre-registration is available at https://dolero6.org, while on-site registration opens at Robinsons Place Iloilo and Robinsons Pavia from April 22-27, beginning at 1 p.m.

Applicants should bring multiple copies of their resume and at least two 2×2 ID photos.

First-time jobseekers can access free services from 16 government agencies at One-Stop Shop booths, including medical assessments and employment document processing.

The Department of Health will deploy two mobile clinics for health screenings and fit-to-work medical certificates.

Free laboratory tests including X-rays, urinalysis and screenings for sexually transmitted infections and HIV will be available.

DOLE will also distribute PHP173 million to 35,746 informal workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

Each beneficiary will receive PHP513 daily for 10 days of short-term work.

An additional PHP34.5 million in grants will fund various livelihood projects—primarily agriculture-related—benefiting 1,400 individuals.

Assistant Regional Director Melissa Navarra said similar job fairs and cash assistance distributions will occur in other provinces across the region.

The event will feature Kadiwa ng Pangulo, where 45 vendors from 32 local enterprises will sell fresh produce, native products and other goods.

This year’s Labor Day theme, “Manggagawang Pilipino, Kaagapay sa Pag-unlad, Sandigan ng Mas Matatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” honors Filipino workers’ vital role in building a stronger nation.

In celebration of the 123rd Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6 (DOLE-6) is hosting a region-wide job fair on May 1 at Robinsons Place Iloilo, offering more than 10,000 employment opportunities to jobseekers and career shifters across Western Visayas.

As of April 24, over 9,000 job openings have already been confirmed, with 8,033 positions available for local employment through 99 participating employers, and 916 overseas job openings from five international companies.

A total of 1,642 jobseekers have pre-registered for the event, with numbers expected to rise as Labor Day approaches.

DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. said the job fair will feature a wide range of employment opportunities across various sectors, including customer service, accounting, marketing, and skilled trades such as driving, mechanics, and welding.

Industries with the most openings include administrative and support services, wholesale and retail trade, construction, financial services, transport and storage, and manufacturing.

Other participating sectors include agriculture, real estate, information and communications, hospitality, and health and wellness.

“This year’s Labor Day celebration is especially significant as it also commemorates the anniversary of the Labor Code of the Philippines, which continues to uphold and protect the rights of Filipino workers,” Rodriguez said during a press briefing.

To improve accessibility, DOLE-6 partnered with the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) to offer a “Libreng Sakay” (Free Ride) within Iloilo City.

Jobseekers from Passi City may also avail of free transportation courtesy of Vallacar Transit/Ceres Liner. Applicants must present their registration number to avail of the service.

Online pre-registration is available at https://dolero6.org, while on-site registration will be open at Robinsons Place Iloilo and Robinsons Pavia from April 22 to 27, starting at 1:00 PM.

Applicants are advised to bring multiple copies of their resume and at least two 2×2 ID photos.

First-time jobseekers could also avail free services from 16 government agencies at One-Stop Shop booths inside the venue. These include medical assessments and employment document processing.

The Department of Health (DOH) will deploy two mobile clinics to provide health screenings and issue fit-to-work medical certificates.

Free lab tests—such as X-rays, urinalysis, and screening for sexually transmitted infections and HIV—will also be available.

Beyond employment opportunities, the labor department will also conduct a P173-million payout for 35,746 informal workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

Each beneficiary will receive PHP513 per day for 10 days of short-term work.

A total of P34.5-million grant will also be awarded for various livelihood projects—mainly agriculture-related—benefiting 1,400 individuals.

Assistant Regional Director Melissa Navarra said that while the main job fair will be in Iloilo City, similar events and cash assistance distributions will also take place in other provinces in the region.

The event will also have the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, where 45 vendors from 32 local enterprises will sell fresh produce, native products, and other goods.

This year’s Labor Day celebration carries the theme “Manggagawang Pilipino, Kaagapay sa Pag-unlad, Sandigan ng Mas Matatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” honoring the vital role of Filipino workers in building a stronger nation.