IBA, Zambales – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Zambales Field Office, in partnership with the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO), spearheaded the Kalayaan 2025 Job Fair in celebration of the 127th Philippine Independence Day.
The job fair linked hundreds of jobseekers in Zambales to nearly 1,400 local employment opportunities offered by 19 employers and 11 national government agencies, which also provided on-site services and career support.
DOLE Zambales Field Office Chief Reynante Lugtu highlighted the importance of skills development in today’s competitive job market, encouraging applicants to utilize available government programs.
“Make yourselves competitive. That’s what is needed nowadays. We are fortunate here in Zambales because we have President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU) offering free education, and TESDA which provides training. Let’s take advantage of these government programs,” he said.
Lugtu also underscored the purpose of the job fair in eliminating barriers to employment by bringing opportunities directly to the community.
“The goal is to bring employers closer to the applicants, so they don’t have to go directly to the companies. Sometimes, transportation cost is a problem — at least here, everything they need is in one place,” he added.
Among those who successfully landed a job at the fair was 22-year-old Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate Shania Queen G. Arangorin, who was hired on the spot by a local employer.
“Super madali pong mag-apply and at the same time mabilis ka rin ma-hire. I’m really thankful to everyone, especially to the government and to DOLE, because they help us as fresh graduates find jobs and get hired easily,” she shared.
Participating agencies included the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Migrant Workers, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Social Security System, Philippine Statistics Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Labor Department, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Kalayaan Job Fair forms part of DOLE’s ongoing efforts to improve employment facilitation and access, particularly for new graduates and unemployed individuals across the country. (CLJD/RGP, PIA Region 3–Zambales)