Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (02 May) – Out of the 828 registered applicants during the Job Fair that was conducted on Tuesday, May 1 at the Santiago City Hall; 188 were hired on-the-spot.

There were 43employers which took part in the Job Fair, 14 were engaged in overseas work while 29 were local establishments. Workers hired-on-the-spot were onsupermarkets, hotels, gaming establishments, motorcycles and farm equipment sales and manpower pooling establishment among others.

In his message, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 2 Regional Director, Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr. said the theme of this year’s 2012 Labor Day celebration is ‘Pagtutulungan, Pagbabago, DisentengTrabaho.’ “With this theme, the DOLE aims to fast-track the matching of jobseekers and employers, particularly in identified industries where skills are highly in-demand or available through the conduct of this Job Fair,” Atty. Rodriguez elaborated. “Angarawnaito ay isa ring pagpupugay at pagpunyagisamgasakripisyongatingmgamanggagawa. Binabatiko kayo ngmaligayangarawngpaggawa,” he added.

On her part, Santiago City Mayor Amelita S. Navarro said her administration aims to reduce if not eliminate poverty in her jurisdiction. “This job fair, which facilitates employment of my constituents, is one way of reducing poverty,” Mayor Navarro added.

The DOLE conducted this year’s Labor Day Jobs Fair in cooperation with the City Government of Santiago City, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) of Isabela and other government agencies. Among which were the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Labor Relation Commission (NLRC), Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), Philhealth, Home Development Mutual Fund or PAGIBIG among others.