ZAMBOANGA CITY– The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office IX trained 25 Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers and Job Placement Officers (JPOs) on the conduct of Pre-Employment Seminar for Local Applicants (PESLA) on February 4-5, 2019 at the Palacio Del Sur, this city.

Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo shared in her opening message that the capacity building activity aims to equip PESO managers and JPOs with important points on how to properly conduct PESLA.

She added that PESLA is already an institutionalized program of the PESO in Regions 11, 12 and CARAGA. It aims to further equip applicants and prepare them for the real world of work.

The two-day activity was facilitated by the prime movers of the PESLA Program in Region 11. The first resource speaker, Ms. Nilda A. Garcia, Retired PESO Manager of LGU Tagum, a Hall-of-Famer for BEST PESO discussed the role of LGU PESOs in the implementation of the PESLA. Also included in her talk are the tips and techniques on how to conduct PESLA.

To give a clear perspective on the role of Job Placement Officers in the conduct of PESLA, Mr. Reynaldo C. Castro, Vice President for External Affairs and International Relations at University of Mindanao provided the audience with relevant and up-to-date statistics on the current trends on Hiring and selection of applicants through modules and videos.

As an added inspiration for the PESO Managers and JPOs, retired Assistant Secretary Maria Gloria A. Tango, shared her best practices on employment facilitation. She encouraged the group to innovate and provide fresher approaches in the implementation of the employment programs in the PESO.

After a workshop session, participants were tasked to present strategies and innovations on conducting PESLA in their areas.

“As JPO, the PESLA will further enhance our career coaching efforts in our school,” said Ms. Maria Anna Gomez- Zamboanga State Polytechnic College (JPO).
Mr. Diosdado Lactuan, a PESO Manager from LGU Molave, Zamboanga del Sur shared, “As take away from the 2-day activity, as PESO, it is important to work together with the JPOs most especially now with the introduction of PESLA.” END/With reports from Corazon Fallorin, LEO-II, TSSD