Department of Labor lines up activities for May 1

CEBU, Philippines – In line with the celebration of the Labor Day 2010 and Industrial Peace Month, the Department of Labor and Employment-Region 7 will conduct more jobs fair to help reduce the problem on unemployment.

DOLE-7 information officer Efren Vito said that with the number of graduates this year, the rate on unemployment will surely increase.

That is why, he said, the department will be holding jobs fair in the different areas of the region. He enumerated that in Negros Oriental, three activities will be held on May 1 –the jobs fair and medical mission, Environment Advocacy Forum and tree planting at Bayawan City, and the Businessmen and Laborers/Workers Consultancy Forum in Canlaon City.

In Bohol, he said there will be training on conciliation and mediation, while in Mandaue City, a big Labor Day celebration will happen as the Search for Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) Singing Idol, tree planting, TIPC Sportsfest and the culmination of the Industrial Peace month will take place.

Adopting the theme, “Manggagawang Pilipino Kaagapay sa Pagbabago”, the officer added that they are also offering self-employment and livelihood programs in Cebu.

Vito said there will be local job fair at Cebu International Convention Center, overseas employment at Abellana National High School, and Business Process Outsourcing at SM Center. He added that more or less 200 companies are confirming to take part on these activities which are scheduled on May.

Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2010, DOLE-7 released P1.4 million for the implementation of programs in Carcar City and San Fernando in Cebu and the province of Bohol.

Vito said with 235 beneficiaries in San Fernando, they provided P600,000 for programs such as training on pillow-case manufacturing, quail raising, giving of blood pressure apparatus to the barangays and livelihood starter KITS (Knowledge Inputs Training and Skills), and the Nego-Cart project for town people.

He added that another P600,000 was given to 360 beneficiaries of Carcar City with the partnership of Red for Life Foundation which started on February 24. He said that the same programs were being conducted here.

Meanwhile, the remaining P200,000 was intended specifically for the livelihood starter KITS of families of many Boholanon overseas Filipino workers with the cooperation of Bohol Jaycees just last month.

However, Vito clarified that there should be no favoritism in choosing the persons to avail of these programs in places mentioned. He added that the system of checks and balances should be observed strictly. — Johanna T. Natavio and Dorothy Mae Acabo, Negros Oriental State University intern/WAB  (FREEMAN NEWS)