President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the Labor Day celebration on Thursday, during which over 14,700 jobs were offered to job seekers in Pasay City. This was part of a larger nationwide effort to provide thousands of employment opportunities to Filipinos.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said over 255,000 job vacancies were made available in simultaneous job fairs held nationwide. The program highlighted the administration’s ongoing push to connect Filipinos directly with employers.
Since President Marcos took office in 2022, over 350,000 jobs have been created through various government programs and public-private partnerships, underscoring the administration’s commitment to boosting the country’s labor market and supporting Filipino workers.
In his speech at the job fair to mark the 123rd Labor Day celebrations, President Marcos described Filipino workers, both local and overseas, as the “foundations and pillars” of the societies where they live and labor.
“Bilang selebrasyon ng Araw ng Manggagawa, mula ika-dalawampu’t tatlo ng Abril hanggangikalawa ng Mayo, magsasagawa tayo ng job fairs sa 69 nalugar sa buong bansa,” President Marcos said.
“Binabati ko po ang mga nakilahok at makikilahok sa jobfairs lalo na iyong mga nasa Regions 3, 4A, 6, 7, 10, 11, at sa lahat pa po namga kasama natin ngayon,” he added.
Before the formal program of the Labor Day celebration began, various sectors and stakeholders presented to the President, in a walk-through, a range of job and training opportunities for Filipino workers, including jobs in manufacturing and hydroponics for urban gardening, an initiative aimed at promoting food sustainability.
The President was joined by government officials, led by Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, and other key business executives.
According to official data, the job fair assembled 103 local employers and companies offering about 14,207 job opportunities.
Further affirming the DOLE’s steadfast commitment to provide workers social protection and support for a brighter and more sustainable future, distribution of livelihood assistance to organized labor unions, parents of child laborers, human rights victims, and payout to the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) beneficiaries were at the forefront of the Labor Day celebrations.
The UPAD program is a community-based initiative that gives short-term emergency employment to disadvantaged workers.
The event also included giving out the award for Outstanding Workers of the Republic (TOWER) to exceptional blue- and white-collar employees whose work has significantly improved their company’s performance and efficiency.
According to the DOLE, the TOWER Awards recognize non-supervisory workers for their innovations and contributions to productivity. Established in 1975 by the Rotary Club of Manila, the program aims to boost workers’ morale, support career growth, and promote industrial harmony. | PND
