The Local Government Unit of Buhi, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), conducted the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan Job and Business Fair in the municipality of Buhi, Camarines Sur on October 4, 2022. The Job and Business Fair is among the many activities conducted for the constituents of Buhi as part of the municipality’s 417th Foundation Anniversary.
Over 60 applicants made most of the opportunity to apply to 13 local and overseas agencies present at the job and business fair, where a total of 3,928 local and overseas employment opportunities were opened. Luckily, there were 23 applicants who were hired on the spot.
Being one of those gravely affected by the pandemic and temporarily unemployed, 32-year-old Gretchen Dacuya of Lourdes, Buhi finds the job fair very beneficial to those seeking for employment like her. Dacuya managed to apply to almost all of the agencies present at the job fair.
“Dakulang tabang talaga an job fair na ini ta nakakatipid si mga nag-aapply ta pandemic pa asin kadakol man an naghahanap trabaho pero dai ninda aram kun sain sinda maduman tapos isay hahagadan ninda nin tabang para makahanap trabaho. Tapos an ibang offices man dai ka papalaogon ‘pag dai ka vaccinated. Sa oras pa lang sa pag-byahe sa mga applyan mo, makakakan na an oras mo,” she shared.
Dacuya also expressed her gratitude to all the organizers of the job fair and the agencies who opened their doors for employment opportunities. “Super thankful ako na may ganito kasi sila na mismo yung pumunta sa town para magbigay ng job fair. Nakiki-collaborate ang mga municipalities kasi siyempre kung wala rin namang gagawa ng ganitong aksyon, wala rin talagang ganitong mangyayari kaya sana magpatuloy lang ang gaya nito para marami pang naghahanap ng trabaho ang matulungan nila.”
Another hopeful applicant at the job fair was the 26-year-old Jose Nikko Noble from San Pascual, Buhi. Currently unemployed, he tried applying again to one of the agencies that he was formerly associated with and to other agencies as well.
According to Noble, “It is very helpful and substantial that we have these kinds of [job] fairs, especially in Buhi, because it gives the job seekers an avenue where they can find a job that would really suit them. They do not have to travel to other places just to land a job. Here, they can submit as many applications as they want and have the best opportunity ahead of them while waiting to get hired.”
“Kudos to everyone who is part of this program because it truly helps a lot of people and there are a lot of things that you can learn from it. If you fail it the first time, then there are definitely other opportunities—you can always just look for the one that best suits your capabilities,” he also added.
Along with the local and overseas employment agencies present, government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PhilHealth, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) were also present to provide government services necessary for the processing of employment requirements.
Moreover, the Southeast Asian Institute of Computer Technology (SEAict), the educational and training arm of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, was also present to promote and accept enrollees for the free training courses being offered, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), English Proficiency Program (EPP), Japanese Language, Medical Transcription, and Front Office NC II, which are all necessary especially for aspiring applicants for overseas employment.
Through the Job and Business Fair being conducted, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur was able to bring employment opportunities and government services closer to the locals of Buhi.
