March 29, 2024

Jenny, a 21-year-old JobStarter from Benguet, is one of the many beneficiaries of the program who strives to make her dream a reality.
Jenny supported herself throughout college by being a part-time caregiver until graduating from a two-year medical and healthcare course in one of the colleges in Baguio City,and eventually became a full-time caregiver.
This was what she knew best and what she was used to doing. Then, nights became longer and sleep turned shorter. Her salary was barely enough to cover her daily expenses.
It only took her a trip to the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera to discover a better career path to pursue. She found out about JobStart and immediately registered to the program through the assistance of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in her municipality. She registered and participated in the life skills training which prepares the youth to become more ready to face the realities of work environments.
Jenny is currently working in a medical company in Clark, Pampanga after she joined an online job fair. Today, Jenny is smiling as she knows this is just the beginning of a worthwhile journey.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the DOLE, PESO, and partner agencies conducted nationwide job fairs every May 1, Labor Day. As we all know, a job fair is an employment facilitation strategy aimed to fast-track the meeting of jobseekers and employers/overseas recruitment agencies in one venue at a specific date to reduce cost, time, and effort particularly on the part of the applicants.
The DOLE will still conduct a nationwide job fair this year, but not the usual face-to-face job fair but an online job fair on Labor Day.
DOLE-CAR Director Nathaniel Lacambra during a casual meeting has informed the media the job fair will be different this year because of the pandemic where gatherings are not allowed.The DOLE, in coordination with the PESO, will be holding a job fair online.
A week before the event, we invite all unemployed, skilled, and unskilled workers, fresh college graduates, graduates of training institutions, displaced workers, and employees seeking advancement to join the scheduled webinars.
On April 27, there will be a “Jobseekers Starter Kit Guide to Employment” and those interested may register athttps://forms.gle/GKRRZU5ATr7R1mBn8; and a “Labor Education for Graduating Students,” for which registration may be done at https://forms.gle/nnKHZ3PATWkdG25A6.
To be held on April 28 is “Growing an Entrepreneur’s Mindset” at https://forms.gle/HuEqg1ieGniGvrbMA and on April 29 a webinar on “Creating a Safe Space Workplace.” The registration link is https://forms.gle/Yp5MEdoVh5uqSXXs9.
First 100 participants to register will receive the links in their e-mail addresses.
Dubbed as 2021 National Online Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) job and business fairs, the event will highlight the National Labor Day celebration while giving job seekers the opportunity to look for decent employment while in the comfort and safety of their homes.
The online job fair forms part of government efforts under the National Employment Recovery Strategy to restart economic activities; generate more employment opportunities; provide labor market facilitation access; improve youth employability; and restore business confidence.
Following the TNK principle, the virtual job fair includes other important components, namely activities on negosyo and kabuhayan, which will be participated by DOLE’s partner-agencies.
The DOLE will be responsible for the administration of job and livelihood components.Lacambra said the online job fair is expected to cater not only to the needs of job seekers but also those who need interventions in other aspects such as skills training, business coaching, and livelihood assistance.
The Department of Trade and Industry will take its share under the negosyo component, providing services such as advocacy for entrepreneurship featuring successful local entrepreneurs and product catalogs; business opportunities that will focus on the industry specific to the locality and/or local chambers; government support and assistance in starting a business, business registration, e-commerce; and small and medium enterprises support and assistance through business advisory and counseling.
There will be a virtual help desk, advocacy on livelihood programs, and provision of training and starter kits under the kabuhayan component of DOLE, National Reintegration Center for OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the rest of partner-agencies that will be also rendering their respective services.
Other government agencies will participate in the one-stop shop services.
For more information, visit www.car.dole.gov.phwww.dole.gov.ph or send a message to the TNK Cordillera or DOLE Cordillera Facebook pages for inquiries.