DOLE Davao says graduates short of skills that industry requires remains a problem

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here said there is still a problem of graduates not being able to meet the requirements of the industry in the Davao Region.

DOLE Davao officer-in-charge of the technical support services Allan Baban pointed out the existing problem of mismatch of graduates’ skills to the requirement of the industry as they may be hired but not on the field that they graduated.

He said the concern on skills mismatch will be discussed thoroughly in a National Summit on Labor and Employment (NSLE) that is being prepared in the coming months for government, private sector, academe and industry to look at.

But the two young students from Davao are the exception because they were offered jobs even before their graduation last March and April.

The cousins, as DOLE called it, fall under RTH or “Ready To Hire” after graduation.

Jose Banzon III, 21, finished computer engineering last March and hired for his first job as software engineer in a company in Global City at McKinley Hills in Taguig with headquarters based in Connecticut, USA while Renel Jose, 24, graduated in April for a course on mining engineering and hired in an Australian-Filipino mining firm in Masbate.

The two were sent by their parents in Manila on separate schools to study on the field of their choice, stayed in separate dormitories and were on their own.

“Hard work, dedication, commitment and discipline” were shared by the cousins when asked what made them succeed in completing their education.

Jose said it is important that one must study well and understand with comprehension what is being taught in school as he gave credit to his rigid training in university and exposure to companies and his internship in foreign school at Chung Chou University of Science and Technology in Taiwan where he studied and was issued Single Chip Ability Certification.

He was also given the chance to work as teaching assistant while there for Summer of 2011. A Blue Knight in Davao from kindergarten to college, he graduated at the Ateneo de Manila University of the course he wished even when he was a kid.

Renel, a Philippine Science High School graduate here, also had his internship in the firm that hired him. He said his on-the-job training was an opportunity for him to show the company his ability and capacity as well as learned from them techniques and skills.

“It was maybe because of my performance that they called me back and asked me to report immediately,” he said. He completed his course at the University of the Philippines in Dilliman.

Baban said not many are given such opportunity and the cousins were grateful for all the support as both proudly said they now belong to the newly hired Filipinos and become part of the country’s employed labor force.

Both are happy and confident having jobs that fits well on the qualifications that they possess.

Meanwhile, he said jobs in call center are still in demand as this does not require specific field.

There is still a slim percentage for RTH vis-a-vis the number of graduates, he said.

On the other hand, he said on Labor Day come May 1st over 12,000 vacancies both local and abroad will be offered to job seekers in Davao Region.

Two jobs fair events will be held on that day where over 7,000 available jobs will be accessed at SM City Davao Entertainment Area and another over 4,000 vacancies at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall.

Baban said the vacancies come from 88 local and overseas employers who will be joining the jobs fair offering positions for local employment as call center agents, office workers, factory workers and skilled workers such as engineers while overseas employers need domestic helpers, construction workers, skilled engineers and nurses.

He said their projection for HOTS (Hired On The Spot) is between 15 to 20 percent.

Also participating during the jobs fair are government agencies namely Social Security System, PhilHealth, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and National Statistics Office (NSO). (PNA)

DCT/LOR/DDB/ldp