The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the CamSur Public Employment Services Office (PESO) once again conducted face-to-face job fair as the COVID-19 protocol restriction lightens. Still following the minimum health standard protocols, the job fair was conducted at the gymnasium of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) also now known as the Polytechnic State University of Bicol in Nabua, Camarines Sur last May 17, 2022.
“This program is aimed to guide graduating students to the world of opportunities and help them to be equipped with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to land a success in their careers and provide opportunity for employment to our local residents particularly the graduates of different extension programs of the college in various skills trainings conducted in the Rinconada area and the whole province of Camarines Sur,” explained Mr. Leo Francis Barbonio, Guidance Councilor of CSPC Guidance Center during his opening remarks.
Over 1,270 graduating students attended the face-to-face job fair to seize the opportunity in immediately getting hired especially during this trying times. There were 43 fortunate applicants who were directly hired on the spot. Thirteen agencies participated in the job fair providing a total of 705 vacancies to job seekers. Among the agencies present were Graceland Food Industries, PEDSCOR-PDTI, Copylandia Office Systems Corp., Stretch Distribution Inc., Consuelo Chito Madrigal Foundation, Sutherland Global Services, Axlerate/ LASS, I-Promote, Toyota Cam Sur, Olivan Hardware Depot. Inc, Baao Parish Multipurpose Cooperative, SYM Marketing Solutions, and Milaor Tradings.
John Rex Oliva is a graduating Mechanical Engineering student of CSPC and it was his first time to apply for a job. According to him, “Importante po yung ganitong event especially sa amin na graduating student para mas ma-enhance yung learnings namin and skills pagdating sa job interview para po if ever na may sumunod na job interview, alam na namin yung tamang gagawin at sasabihin.”
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa PESO and Provincial Government sa pag conduct ng job fair para sa amin kasi po dahil dito, mas napadali yung paghanap namin ng trabaho kasi kapag mag-aaply ka ng trabaho diba usually ikaw yung pupunta sa office nila which is kailangan ng pamasahe. Ngayong pandemic, mahal na ang pamasahe. Kaya nakakatulong po talaga yung ganito na sila (agencies) na mismo pupunta para maging convenient na para sa aming aplikante.” He also added. With the face-to-face job fair, it has been made things easier for our job seekers since companies or agencies are the ones to visit the community or school thus, lessening expenses and hassle in transportation when applying for a job. It is known that there is also a fare rate increase because of pandemic which also makes our job seekers hesitant in pursuing their job applications.
For Daisy Dacillo, a graduating Education major, she sees this experience as an opportunity for every student to have a job especially after graduation because pandemic changed the way things are in the corporate world. She shared, “Madami nang Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho especially nung nagkaroon ng pandemic so isa talaga itong magandang opportunity para sa amin. Mahirap na ngayon di mo talaga alam if mag-aapply ka pa ba kasi sa sitwasyon natin ngayon, may mga opportunity na nagbubukas at meron ding hindi. Dahil dito, I feel grateful and blessed na nagbigay sila ng opportunity to every Filipino worker na magkaroon ng work ulit.”
One of the negative impacts that this pandemic brought to us is unemployment. Getting hired as well as keeping a job has been challenging during this trying times. Many companies closed and laid off their workers. Our lifestyle has changed as we cope up with the new normal. As new set of graduates joins the workforce, it is also a challenge for these new graduates to pursue their dreams and landing a job that befits their knowledge, skills and talents. Conducting job fairs serves as an avenue for job seekers and employers to get to know each other and meet halfway.
Even before pandemic, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur have been conducting job fairs not just to graduating students but to all job seekers in the province to open the doors for job opportunities which can help every Camarinenses in providing support to their families and alleviate themselves from poverty.
