- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Jobseekers flocked to SM City Bacolod atrium on Day 1 of the two-day summer job fair initiated by the Public Employment Service Office of Bacolod, under the leadership of Mayor Alfredo Benitez.
More than 12,000 jobs are up for grabs in various industries, local and overseas, with the fair to be held until tomorrow, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the city said.
Since July last year, the PESO already conducted 15 job fairs, with around 57,300 vacancies, although Benitez earlier noted that only about 8,600 were filled.
“Kalabanan sang positions nga indi na-fill were in the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) sector. Ngaa? Applicants lack the skillset para sa BPO,” the mayor explained.
He said his administration will ensure that all job openings are filled through a reskilling revolution. “We have been closely working with higher education institutions and local industries to identify the skillset needed in the local job market, so that our schools produce graduates with the required skillset.”
Benitez said the city will strengthen linkages among the local government, higher education, technical and vocational education institutions, and industry associations to craft workforce development plans to support various industries, particularly the IT-BPM industry.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office, in partnership with DTI-Negros Occidental and SM City Bacolod, will conduct a financial forum for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on July 27, from 1-5 p.m., also at the Main Atrium.
This event will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, the city said in an advisory July 24, adding that those interested may contact the Bacolod Showroom at 469-3768 or 0977-802-6144./CGC
