Job fairs mark Independence Day celebration in Ilocos region

Job seekers attend a job fair in the Ilocos region on June 12 during the celebration of the country’s Independence Day. (Photo courtesy of Department of Labor and Employment-Ilocos)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Simultaneous job fairs marked the Independence Day celebration in Ilocos region with at least 16,000 vacancies offered to job seekers, according to the regional Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday, June 12.

The vacancies consisted of jobs being offered by government agencies, as well as local and overseas establishments, according to DOLE regional director and lawyer Evelyn Ramos.

These include jobs in customer service, sales, retail, and construction.

Ramos said her office was thankful for successfully hosting a physical job fair during this year’s Independence Day, the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Job seekers were not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the regional DOLE had encouraged them to get jabbed against the virus.

The job fairs in the regions were held in Candon Civic Center in Candon City, Ilocos Sur; CSI mall in the San Fernando City, La Union; Nepo mall in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; and Don Leopoldo Sison Convention Center in Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

Reading the message from Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, Ramos thanked the country’s workforce for showing “diligence and resilience during this most challenging time.”

“And we cannot overemphasize how these have immensely helped us sustain our economy and regain momentum. Indeed, you are our country’s modern-day heroes,” the message read.

READ: 150,000 jobs await job seekers on Independence Day