Western Visayas PESOs level up employment services
ILOILO CITY — Public Employment Service Offices strengthened their role as frontline partners linking workers and job seekers to employment opportunities during the 2026 Western Visayas PESO Congress held Aug. 18-21 in Iloilo City.
PESO Western Visayas and the Department of Labor and Employment Region VI organized the four-day congress, which brought together about 200 PESO managers and personnel, local chief executives and employment stakeholders from cities and municipalities across the region.
Participants reviewed PESO performance, discussed employment programs and policies, raised operational concerns and shared practices aimed at improving employment services in their communities.
DOLE Western Visayas Regional Director Sixto T. “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr. emphasized the role of PESOs and local government units in making employment services more accessible to workers and job seekers.
“The success of our employment programs does not rest on DOLE alone. It is made possible by the strong partnership between the national government, our local government units, and most especially, our PESOs who are at the forefront of connecting our people to decent and meaningful employment opportunities.”
Rodriguez also relayed a message from Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino recognizing PESO personnel as frontline partners in expanding access to decent work and meaningful employment.
PESOs are no-fee employment service facilities established under the PESO Act of 1999. The law created a national employment facilitation network operated largely by local governments with coordination and technical support from DOLE.
The congress also highlighted Western Visayas’ employment situation.
Figures presented during the event showed that the region had a 93.7% employment rate, a 6.3% unemployment rate and a 31.8% underemployment rate. The data were from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s preliminary April 2026 Labor Force Survey.
The figures reflected employment gains but also highlighted the need to improve the quality and availability of jobs in the region.
The first day ended with the PESO Midyear Performance Recognition, which honored offices for their accomplishments and exemplary implementation of DOLE programs and employment services.
Later sessions focused on the personnel delivering those services.
Participants attended discussions on effective communication, workplace mental health and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The sessions offered practical insights that participants could apply in their PESO offices.
The congress also included an enterprise tour of selected areas in Iloilo.
Participants observed how local businesses and community-based enterprises engaged in pottery, food production, rattan weaving and other livelihood activities were being developed.
The tour encouraged partner local governments, through their PESOs, to identify and support livelihood opportunities in their communities. It also sought to strengthen the implementation of DOLE Region VI’s DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
The third and fourth days focused on PESO meetings, program updates and upcoming activities.
PESO managers and personnel discussed implementation concerns, clarified policies and requirements, and exchanged experiences and practices from their localities.
The discussions allowed PESOs to identify common challenges, consider possible solutions and develop action points for the coming months.
Beyond gathering PESO personnel, the congress provided a venue for learning, collaboration and coordination among those directly involved in delivering local employment services.
The event reinforced the importance of partnerships among PESOs, DOLE, local governments, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other stakeholders in keeping government employment programs responsive to workers, job seekers, employers and communities.
As Western Visayas responds to its workforce’s changing needs, PESOs remain at the forefront of bringing employment opportunities closer to residents.
Through continued coordination, capacity-building and the sharing of local practices, the region’s employment service network aims to connect more workers and job seekers with opportunities matching their skills, aspirations and needs.
Comments (0)
LEAVE A REPLY
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Related Articles
From Burden of Proof to Industrial Strategy: Completing the Policy View on Pax Silica
(First of 3 parts) The Question After the Burden of Proof The Institute of Contemporary Economics’ policy paper, Pax Silica and the Burden of Proof examined the conditions under which major commitments of land, electricity, water, infrastructure and public resources could be justified. It also raised the question of
PHLPost warns: don’t tap fake parcel delivery links
MANILA — The Philippine Postal Corp., known as PHLPost, warned the public against fraudulent text messages, or “smishing,” that misuse the agency’s name and identity to steal personal and sensitive financial information. Smishing is a form of phishing that uses text messages to trick recipients into disclosing information or visiting fraudulent websites. PHLPost said scammers
GSIS refunds PHP 9 billion under Balik Ginhawa 2
MANILA — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) refunded more than PHP 9 billion in loan amortizations to over 500,000 members and pensioners during the first 24 days of the expanded Balik Ginhawa 2 program. The rollout follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide timely financial relief to Filipinos. For beneficiaries, the program