ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office IX (DOLE9) thru its Zamboanga City Field Office (ZCFO) has successfully conducted the Zamboanga Peninsula Trabaho Negosyo Kabuhayan (TNK) Job Fair on October 8, 2018 at the East Wing Atrium, KCC Mall de Zamboanga.
DOLE 9 Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo said that 32 employers participated in the job fair offering 13, 938 vacancies for both local and overseas.
She added that the job fair registered 23.5% or 67 jobseekers hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) out of the 448 registered applicants. In addition, 197 jobseekers were considered as near-hires who only need to submit additional requirements or undergo further interviews to qualify for the job.
The job fair commenced right after the ceremonial ribbon cutting and short opening program attended by DOLE Assistant Secretary Atty. Federico V. Abuan Jr. who gave an inspirational message to jobseekers and a message of thanks to all partners who made the event possible.
Also in attendance were Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Zamboanga ECOZONE Chairman and Administrator Christopher Lawrence Arnuco.
To further inspire jobseekers to give their best effort in applying for jobs, DOLE 9 invited two (2) employees who have landed suitable jobs after participating in the 2015 DOLE Job Fair held in Western Mindanao State University.

Aivelyn Martinez, a regular staff of KCC Mall de Zamboanga, shared her experience where she was hired-on-the-spot after undergoing an interview with her current employer. After 6 months’ time, she was promoted as Marketing Staff and was regularized.

Meanwhile, Jerwin Tuble also recounted the hardships he experienced as an applicant queuing in line for interviews. He was hired-on-the-spot on the very day he applied as a visual merchandiser. With hard work and dedication, he is now a regular staff under the Marketing Department.

The job fair formed part of the TNK Fair as a convergence of services with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opening with the Barangay Negosyo Summit attended by 2,000 region-wide participants from micro small enterprises and barangay officials.

TNK was implemented to realize Ambisyon 2040: Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development particularly ensuring and decent work and economic growth among others.