ZAMBOANGA CITY — Zamboanga Peninsula Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) and Job Placement Officers (JPO) participated in the yearly Mid-Year Performance Assessment hosted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 last July 8, 2021 via Zoom Teleconference.

Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III that 69 PESO Managers and 15 JPOs attended the virtual event which featured learning sessions and concluded with an awarding ceremony for the Top Performing PESO Managers.

The activity not only discussed accomplishments for the first half of the year but also presented best practices and tackled areas for improvements. Technical Services and Support Division Chief, Engr. Wesley D. Tan highlighted the 1st semester’s PESO Accomplishment of the region.

Focused on equipping PESO managers and JPOs on FIRE and the future of work, the following learning sessions were conducted: TVET in the Age of Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRE): Future of Skills Development in Region 9 by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 9 Assistant Regional Director Engr. Allan T. Bacatan and Culture and Values in the time of Pandemic “Culture that Heals” by National Commission for Culture and the Arts – National Study on Filipino Values Team Leader Mr. Arvin Manuel L. Villalon.

DOLE Undersecretary Renato L. Ebarle, DOLE-Bureau of Local Employment and Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay and Senator Joel Villanueva gave messages of support through video.

To acknowledge the LGU PESOs and PESO Managers in the region of their productivity and accomplishments shown during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, DOLE 9 gave away special awards to Top Performing PESO Managers as follows:

PESO Aurora headed by Mr. Jonifer M. Sanopao – Top Performing PESO Manager for Referral and Placement, CGEC and PEIS
PESO Pagadian headed by Engr. Joseph Isaias M. Quipot, IV – Top Performing PESO Manager for LMI,
PESO Isabela headed by Ms. Aradelria T. Belling – Best BESO

Regional Winners of the Secretary’s Bayanihan Service Awards were also announced:

PESO Isabela City – Component City
PESO – Aurora – 2nd Class Municipality
PESO – Payao – 4th Class Municipality

The regional winners will be representing Zamboanga Peninsula for the National’s Secretary Bayanihan Service Awards.

ARD Gatinao expressed her thanks and appreciation towards the PESO Managers and JPOs for making things possible despite the pandemic.

“I encourage you all to stay anchored on the core functions of the PESO together with your core values especially in the recovery process of the government. I hope that you can sustain your energy and vitality by taking care of your health and focusing on your journey to faith,” ARD Gatinao said.

PESO is the multi-employment facilitation arm of DOLE responsible for carrying out the various employment programs and services at the grass-roots level. This is to ensure the prompt and efficient delivery of employment services as well as to provide timely information on the labor market and other DOLE programs. ### Karen Grafia