Close to 3,000 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from the Province and City of Iloilo received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the “Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas Para sa 4Ps” job fair at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz District on Thursday (February 13).

Each 4Ps beneficiary received financial aid amounting to Php3,000 under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, who graced the activity, said the job fair for 4Ps beneficiaries is a nationwide initiative of the government to aid the Filipino people.

“Nandito po ang payout natin para sa ating beneficiaries ng DSWD. Ito po ay ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng kababayan natin, hindi lamang po namin ito ginagawa rito, kung hindi ay sa buong Pilipinas,” President Marcos said.

The chief executive added: “Ito po ay ginagawa natin dahil alam naman po namin na mahirap ang buhay ngayon. Marami tayong mga pangangailangan. Kaya kung ano ang maitutulong ng pamahalaan, kung anong magagawa ng gobyerno para sa inyo, ay gagawin naman.”

Of the 3,000 4Ps beneficiaries who participated, around 1,200 applied for jobs available in the job fair, with 27 participating companies invited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Fifteen were hired on the spot while 22 beneficiaries were near-hired or with guaranteed employment but needed to submit additional documents to the employers.

The DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) offered employment assistance to beneficiaries who were hired on the spot and those who were near-hired.

Each beneficiary will undergo evaluation for eligibility under the SLP’s Employment Facilitation Track.

The SLP is the DSWD’s capability-building program that aims to help the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized households and communities in improving their socio-economic conditions by providing them with opportunities to access and acquire livelihood assets.

In her message, Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera of the DSWD’s National Household Targeting System and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program  recognized partners particularly the local private companies and national agencies for facilitating the job fair exclusive to 4Ps beneficiaries.

“We are giving this opportunity to our exiting and graduating 4Ps beneficiaries dahil kapag nakaabot na kayo ng seven years o kaya ga-graduate na sa programa, at least meron na kayong mga trabaho,” Undersecretary Cabrera said.

The companies that offered jobs include Ace Hardware Phils., Inc.; Sports Central (Manila), Inc.; Quantum Global Food Concepts, Inc.; Wizard Manpower and Allied Services, Inc.; Principal Corp. (Prince Hypermart); Eca Manpower Services, Inc.; Imperial Appliance Plaza; Solid Gold Food, Inc. – Mcdonalds Iloilo; Carlos Bakeshop and Café; Proud Ilonggo Food Corp.; Geco Philippines Inc.; 3ES Logistic Services Inc.; J & T Express Inc.; Paramount Human Resource Multi-Purpose Cooperative; SM Supermarket; Jolly Management Solutions, Inc.; Moostbrand, Inc.; CRH Manpower and General Services, Inc.; CLR Manpower Services; Workmode Manpower Services; Romac Visayas Services, Inc.; and Goodwill Metal Corp.

The firms IQor Iloilo; Sagility Iloilo; Lead Generation and Donor Creation Inc.; Reed Elsevier Shared Services (Philippines) Inc.; and Altius Inspiro Inc. also offered employment opportunities.

Government agencies also catered to queries and provided assistance in the availment of specific services.

The participating government agencies include the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Department of Migrant Workers (DMW); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Social Security Service (SSS); National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); PAG-IBIG; Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); PHILHEALTH; Regional Repatriate Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB); Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC); Professional Regulations Commission (PRC); Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC); and National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

The ‘Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas’ job fair was organized by the DSWD, in partnership with the DOLE and other key agencies, to assist 4Ps beneficiaries in obtaining pre-employment and advisory services. (YADP)