Eighty-three applicants were hired on the spot (HOTS) and 165 others considered as near-hired in the MassKara Job Fair Oct. 5 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City that drew in 5,282 jobseekers, the city said.
Near-hires are those needing to submit additional requirements or take further interviews or tests, but are already considered as hired.
“Rest assured that we will continue to develop more programs and initiatives to provide greater opportunities for our local workforce,” Mayor Greg Gasataya told the jobseekers at the opening ceremony also attended by Councilor Jason Villarosa, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) head Mae Llamas and coordinator Jovelyn Canoy, as well as officials and representatives of the Department of Labor and Employment.
The city said in a press release that among those HOTS were Lyza Lou Abella, who will soon join PESO Bacolod, as well as out-of-towners Andria Pit and Michaela Calibut, who were hired by a drugstore.
The PESO Bacolod said about 11,000 jobs were up for grabs in the job fair participated in by nine overseas companies, and about 100 local firms that gave applicants a wide range of employment options across varied industries.
Canoy noted that many participating companies were open to hiring entry-level applicants, including fresh graduates and senior high school completers. “In response to the mayor’s call, I’ve observed that several of our partner firms have recalibrated their qualifications—without compromising the quality of jobseekers they hire.”
The job fair remains a cornerstone of PESO Bacolod’s efforts to opening doors to meaningful employment for Bacolodnons, the city said. ||
