Western Visayas PESO Awards honor education-to-employment pathways

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The 2025 Western Visayas PESO Awards, held March 26, 2026, at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, highlighted the role of Public Employment Service Offices, or PESOs, and Job Placement Offices, or JPOs, in expanding job opportunities and advancing workforce development.

PESOs are local employment service offices institutionalized under Republic Act 10691 to strengthen employment facilitation and labor market services at the grassroots level.

With the theme “Championing Employability: Celebrating PESOs and JPOs for Advancing the Education-to-Employment Pathways,” the event gathered PESO managers and representatives from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo to recognize excellence in public employment service delivery and strengthen partnerships for inclusive growth.

Regional Director Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. underscored in his opening message the role of PESOs and JPOs in bridging the gap between education and employment.

Rodriguez said the dedication of PESO managers and staff continues to create opportunities for job seekers and ensure government programs reach communities effectively.

In his keynote address, Commission on Higher Education Region VI Director Raul F. Muyong also emphasized the role of PESOs and JPOs in linking education and employment.

Muyong commended PESOs and JPOs for strengthening education-to-employment pathways and preparing the workforce for future challenges.

The awarding ceremony recognized the exemplary performance of PESOs and JPOs across Western Visayas and their contribution to employment facilitation and program implementation.

Under the DOLE Programs Engagement Award, the top-performing offices were the Province of Antique in the provincial category, Iloilo City and Roxas City in the city categories, and the municipalities of Malay, New Washington, Madalag, and Buruanga in Aklan, and Hamtic in Antique, in the municipality category.

Capiz State University was also recognized in the JPO category for its strong engagement in DOLE programs.

For the Referral Efficiency Award, the Province of Capiz, Iloilo City, and Roxas City led their respective categories for effective job referral facilitation.

Municipal awardees were Kalibo in Aklan, and Patnongon, Barbaza, and Anini-y in Antique.

The University of Iloilo – PHINMA earned the distinction in the JPO category.

For the Placement Efficiency Award, the Province of Aklan, Iloilo City, and Passi City were recognized for outstanding job placement performance.

At the municipal level, Ibajay, Nabas, and Numancia in Aklan, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, and Anini-y in Antique were commended for their efforts.

The University of Antique was honored in the JPO category.

For maximizing available job opportunities, the Vacancy Utilization Award went to the Province of Capiz, Roxas City, and the municipalities of Carles in Iloilo, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, Numancia in Aklan, and San Rafael in Iloilo.

The University of Antique again stood out in the JPO category for its consistent performance.

The Outstanding Career Development Support Program Institutional Coverage Award recognized the Province of Aklan, Roxas City, and the municipalities of Tigbauan, San Miguel, and Tubungan in Iloilo, and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, for effective implementation of career development initiatives.

Guimaras State University received the award in the JPO category.

The Innovation and Strategic Award was bestowed on the Province of Antique, along with PESOs in Kalibo, Aklan, Roxas City, Capiz, Sibunag, Guimaras, and Iloilo City, for innovative and strategic approaches to delivering employment services.

The event also recognized the newly institutionalized PESO of Buenavista, Guimaras, which was established Dec. 29, 2023, highlighting the continued expansion of employment service delivery mechanisms in the region.

Exemplary local government units from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo were also honored for promoting child protection and welfare and for demonstrating commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children in their communities.

In his closing message, Gabriel Felix M. Umadhay, president of the Federation of Public Employment Service Office Managers Association of the Philippines – Western Visayas Inc., thanked stakeholders and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to enhancing PESO operations and strengthening collaboration among institutions.

The 2025 Western Visayas PESO Awards stood as a testament to the region’s commitment to empowering job seekers, strengthening employment facilitation, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development through effective public employment service delivery.