DIPOLOG CITY, ZDN – Forty-one (41) jobseekers celebrated Dapitan City’s 60th Charter Day with new beginnings as they got hired on the spot (HOTS) in a Job Fair held yesterday, June 21, 2023, at the Cultural and Sports Center, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte Province.

The local government unit of Dapitan City headed by Mayor Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) initiated the activity in close coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Zamboanga del Norte Field Office (ZDNFO).

The positions that registered HOTS were finance officers, customer service representatives for BPO giant, Qualfon, based in Dumaguete and Neo Global Solutions, and drivers for Rural Transit Mindanao Inc.

A total of 19 employers offered a total of 4,298 vacancies of which 923 were local and 3,375 were overseas. Among the top local vacancies included finance officers, customer service representatives and drivers. Meanwhile, overseas jobs require skilled workers such as painters, welders, drivers, carpenters and beauticians among others.

Out of the 275 registered job seekers, 210 were deemed qualified while 88 were near-hires. Near hires are jobseekers who only need to submit additional documents or undergo further interviews.

Mike Jericho Rosal, a jobseeker hired-on-the-spot for Qualfon, shares his experience:
“It was nerve-wracking but also a privilege for Dapitanons. I am very thankful to the local government unit of Dapitan and DOLE for this opportunity,” he said.

DOLE 9 Regional Director Albert E. Gutib, in his message, commended LGU Dapitan for initiating the job fair especially that a lot of students were senior high school completers and college graduates who recently joined the labor force.

“We will continue to provide support to the LGU through the PESO to ensure that employment facilitation programs are implemented thoroughly in the City,” he said.

Department of Migrant Workers Zamboanga City Head, Marietta M. Bellotindos, oriented job seekers on Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons prior to the start of the job fair.

Also present during the event were representatives from the Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Pag-IBIG HDMF, PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority who offered their programs and services to applicants and walk-in clients. END/KCQG