(March 18, 2022) Aurora is a second-class municipality in Zamboanga del Sur, consisting of forty-four (44) barangays. As of May 2020, it has a total population of 52,995 people. In honor of the first lady, the town was named after President Manuel L. Quezon’s spouse, Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon. It is the easternmost municipality in the province, bounded by the province of Lanao del Norte on its eastern side.

Aurora’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) has been one of the Top Performing PESOs of the Zamboanga Peninsula region in terms of PESO Employment Information System (PEIS), Career Guidance and Employment Coaching, and Referral and Placement.

GOING ONLINE FOR BETTER SERVICES
They pushed for online transactions due to the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases by making innovations and adjustments to ensure clients’ safety. The shift towards digital operations was a practical means of engaging with clients, allowing flexibility to introduce automation and faster processes. It aims to expand its programs and services by connecting to nearby provinces to give wage employment opportunities both in the formal and informal sector workers in the municipality

In partnership with different establishments, PESO Aurora was able to post 9,062 Job Vacancies in the official Facebook Account from January to November 2021, and 9,062 Applicants Registered in PESO Employment System (PES); referred Applicants 13,341 and 9,310 were Placed Job Seekers.

The office began to look for ways to achieve safety and became an important part of the workforce, but it has elevated its role in the workplace during these trying times. The job seekers were from the locality, Aurora’s neighboring municipalities and provinces, and even Cebu City.

Further, PESO Aurora was able to cater to 380 beneficiaries for Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD), which provided emergency employment for displaced workers in the locality.The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected both in health sector and business sector. It has brought fast-moving and unexpected variables in the business economy. Some businesses, especially small-medium enterprises.

WELL-DECORATED PESO
PESO Aurora entered the Nationwide Top Spots at PESO Employment Information System (PEIS). The PESO Employment Information System is the enhanced version of the Skills Registry System. It is a database of active manpower supply containing the profiles of all persons and employers registered under the NSRP. It shows the information on the qualifications and skills of the participants and the job vacancies posted by the employers.

At present PESO Aurora has the highest total number of registered applicants with 35,366, 555 employers, number of vacancies posted 13, 671, and total reported applicant transactions 34,369 , making it this years’ Top Performing PESO in the region.

PESO Aurora was declared as Regional Top Performing PESO during the 2021 DOLE 9 Mid-Year Performance Assessment (MYPA), as follows: Regional Winner for Secretary’s Bayanihan Service Awards (1st-2nd Class Municipality), Regional Top Performing PESO in Career Guidance and Employment Coaching, Referral and Placement, and PESO Employment Information System (PEIS). For the month of July 2021, Regional Top Performing PESO in Career Guidance and Employment Coaching and PESO Employment Information System (PEIS). For the month of August 2021, Regional Top Performing PESO in Career Guidance and Employment Coaching, Referral and Placement, and PESO Employment Information System (PEIS). For the month of September 2021, Regional Top Performing PESO for Referral and Placement, and PESO Employment Information System (PEIS) and for the month of October 2021, Regional Top Performing PESO in Career Guidance and Employment Coaching and PESO Employment Information System (PEIS).

DOLE 9 introduced the PES and LMI Online reporting to all the PESOs in Zamboanga del Sur wherein the PESO-Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur was able to adapt the new means of submitting the reporting with the help and guidance of the regional office.

The Local Government Unit of Aurora through its PESO allocated a budget to cover the 93 grantees under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES). The student beneficiaries were delighted to receive such an amount because it will help them in terms of their finances regarding their studies.

“In PESO Aurora, we don’t just help you find the right job; we also help you be the right person for the job. In connection to this, we have conducted various activities in order to fulfill this platform,” says PESO Manager Jonifer Sanopao.

The conduct of Special Recruitment Activities (SRAs) is still ongoing despite the outbreak of COVID-19. This is to help job seekers who wish to work abroad find the job that best suits them well. This year, PESO-Aurora catered four (4) agencies to conduct SRAs in the municipality these are: OASIA Global Resources, Inc.-Iligan City (April 14-15, 2021), Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corporation (June 19-20, 2021), Asia World Recruitment Inc. (August 18-19, 2021) and OASIA Global Resources, Inc.-Pagadian (November 11-12, 2021).

With a huge following in their Facebook page, the PESO provides updates on job vacancies and DOLE programs. Information is likewise communicated through PESO Hour radio program on DXNJ 104.5 Radyo Kaugmaran, every Friday (9:00AM to 10:00AM).

Transaction booths were built in front of the Municipal Hall to cater to clients. Employment facilitation shifted to fully digitalized transactions starting March 2020, wherein partners from Local Companies Private Establishments and other agencies followed suit. END (With reports from Michael Vincent Macrohon, ZDSFO)