Roxas job fair lands jobs for 145 fresh graduates

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A midyear inter-school job fair helped 145 job seekers secure employment on the spot, most of them fresh graduates, at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center on July 10, 2026, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

The Public Employment Service Office of Roxas City organized the event in partnership with DOLE Western Visayas through its Capiz Field Office.

DOLE said the outcome reflected Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino’s Trabaho Agad program, which seeks to provide accessible employment opportunities to people across different sectors.

The initiative also supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal of strengthening workforce competitiveness and giving Filipinos a fair chance to secure decent, productive work through cooperation among the government, private sector, and educational institutions.

Most of those hired were fresh graduates of Capiz State University, Filamer Christian University, Colegio de la Purísima Concepcion, Hercor College, College of St. John, and the University of Perpetual Help System–Pueblo de Panay.

DOLE Western Visayas also hired 30 successful applicants who met the qualifications for its Government Internship Program.

The internship program is intended to help young people gain workplace experience, improve their employability, and explore careers in public service through structured assignments in government offices.

In line with Tolentino’s directive to strengthen employment services and equip workers with future-ready skills, the job fair also served as a one-stop venue for government services, career opportunities, and skills development programs.

Ten national government agencies participated in the event, bringing frontline services closer to job seekers and other members of the public.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Western Visayas awarded financial grants to 18 qualified beneficiaries in recognition of the contributions of overseas Filipino workers and their families to the Philippine economy.

The Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with Robo Code Technologies Inc., conducted artificial intelligence training for employees to promote digital innovation and workforce readiness.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also offered five scholarship training programs to interested walk-in applicants seeking to improve their skills and employability.

DOLE Western Visayas Regional Director Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. said job fairs remain among the department’s most effective employment facilitation strategies.

Rodriguez said the events bring employers, job seekers, government agencies, and training institutions together in one venue to create immediate employment opportunities and prepare workers for the future economy.

DOLE Western Visayas thanked PESO-Roxas City and the Roxas City government, led by Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas, for organizing an initiative focused on providing employment and livelihood opportunities, particularly for young people.

The regional office also thanked the 33 participating employers, partner educational institutions, national government agencies, and other stakeholders for supporting inclusive employment and sustainable economic growth in Western Visayas.

Job fairs are among the employment services assigned to local PESOs under Republic Act No. 8759, which calls for employers and job seekers to be brought together periodically for immediate job matching.

DOLE said more than 18,000 job seekers secured employment through 347 job fairs nationwide during the first quarter of 2026, while 8,693 young beneficiaries gained work experience through its youth employability programs.

The Roxas City fair was held as the national unemployment rate stood at 4.8% in May 2026, representing about 2.50 million unemployed Filipinos, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The PSA reported that the employment rate among Filipinos ages 15 to 24 was 87.6% in May, while about 787,000 of the 6.10 million employed young people were underemployed.

DOLE said the job fair demonstrated how cooperation among the government, industry, and academic institutions can create employment opportunities and translate the Marcos administration’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda into tangible outcomes for Filipino workers.