San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora with ‘hired on the spot’ applicants at the recent mega job fair
MANILA, Philippines – The city government of San Juan led by Mayor Francis Zamora, in partnership with GH Mall, held a Mega Job Fair last October 11, 2022, at the newly opened Lifestyle Annex, Greenhills Mall.
62 companies from GH Mall joined the mega job fair – from various establishments such as restaurants, retail stores, employment agencies, car accessories shops, jewelry stores, bookstores, banks, eyewear shops, and health and beauty clinics.
Zamora, along with Vice Mayor Angelo Agcaoili and Councilors Macky Mathay and Ervic Vijandre, and GH Mall officers led by AVP and Head of Mall Operations James Candelaria, Vice President and Head of Ortigas Mall Arch. Renee Bacani, Marites Ortigas, and Alex Ortigas observed the job fair.
“Ako’y natutuwa dahil level up na ang Greenhills Mall. Ako’y nagpapasalamat dahil naisakatuparan natin ang mega job fair. Hindi po araw-araw na merong magbubukas na malaking wing ng mall. Ibig sabihin, pagkakataon ito sa mga San Juaneño na magkatrabaho,” Zamora said.
Partner national agency Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Dir. Beth Cagara was also present during the event.
Candelaria welcomed the employers, applicants, and thanked the city officials.
“GH Mall Management is grateful to its partnership with San Juan City led by Mayor Francis Zamora in providing opportunities and in promoting nation-building in the progressive city of San Juan. We can create more jobs here in the city of San Juan that will boost business and tourism.”
Cagara was optimistic that many applicants will land a job.
“Nandito po tayo ngayon para magbigay ng disenteng trabaho para sa San Juaneño. Inaasahan po ng DOLE na sa araw na ito ay marami po tayong mabigyan ng trabaho at sana maraming “HOTS” o hired on the spot. Sapagkat bilang taga-DOLE, pangarap po natin na mabigyan ng disenteng trabaho ang mga tao.”
“The reason why we’re very excited today is because this GH Mall will give a lot of tremendous opportunities not only for our city but for our fellow San Juaneños as well. Rest assured that the city council of San Juan will always give top priority to the employment opportunities of our San Juaneños,” Agcaoili said.
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“San Juaneño First Policy”
Mayor Zamora also explained that the city is fully implementing its “San Juaneño First Policy” Program. This means that the city will prioritize providing jobs for its residents to increase its employment rate and allow them to afford better lives for their family and become contributing members of society.
“Prayoridad natin na magtrabaho sa San Juan ang mga San Juaneno. Gusto natin na ang magtrabaho sa kumpanya ninyo ay San Juaneño. Gusto natin na makatulong sa mamamayan. Kung ang iha-hire ninyo ay taga-San Juan, yung biyahe nila, maiksi lang. They will spend less for transportation, possibly even just walk so less expense for them, pati yung oras na igugugol nila. Kesa magtrabaho sila sa malayong lugar, kung dito sila sa Greenhills magtrabaho, mas may oras sila para sa kanilang pamilya, mas may oras magpahinga, that will make them efficient employees.”
The mega job fair also served also served as a one-stop shop for job seekers since partner agencies from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PhilHealth, and PAGIBIG Fund will set up assistance booths.
PESO assistance
Meanwhile, the local government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is also available to assist job seekers Mondays to Fridays at the San Juan City Hall.
Part of its main program is to match the skillset of individuals to companies with job openings to help them land a decent job through the LGU’s digital skills registry.
This will also help companies hire employees who are already vetted by the local government.
Hired On the Spot!
In just an hour after the mega job fair started, six applicants were already able to secure jobs from employers who joined the job fair.
These lucky applicants expressed their gratitude to the efforts of the local government and GH Mall in mounting this job fair.
“The experience is amazing po kasi pwede na mag-start na agad ng work, magpa-process lang ng requirements, start na agad ng work. Mga two months na po [ako naghahanap ng work], buti may pa-job fair si mayor. Thank you kay Mayor Francis Zamora for bringing the job fair here in San Juan. Masaya kasi taga-rito lang ako sa San Juan tapos yung work dito lang rin sa San Juan,” John Christian Baldorado, who was hired by Golden ABC as custodian/store OIC said
Two sales associates were also hired by Filbar’s.
“Okay yung experience, masarap sa pakiramdam. Four months na rin ako naghahanap ng trabaho. Masaya ako natanggap ako dito right on the spot. Ang advantage is malapit. Unlike sa ibang in-apply-an kong job fair, malayo, dito hindi hassle sa biyahe,” Jose Anthony Altoveros said,
“Sobrang saya po kasi first time ko pong makahanap ng trabaho na sobrang dali lang po. Yung trabaho na po mismo yung lalapit. Sobrang gaan po sa pakiramdam. Kasi yung iba, sobrang daming requirements tapos babalik ka pa bukas para sa ibang requirements. Maraming salamat po kay Mayor Francis Zamora sa programang ito, sa pagbibigay sa amin ng chance na makapagtrabaho po para magbago na po yung takbo ng buhay namin,” Randy Ricasio added.
Wiljohn Marinay stated his thoughts after being hired as a service worker for Sweet Ecstasy.
“Okay siya kasi marami siyang job opportunities na binibigay. Pwede kang makapili saan ka babagay na trabaho, Pwede ka pumili kung about food, service o mechanics kaya maganda mag-apply ‘pag ganito. Para sa ‘kin, mas madali yung ganito yung may ine-endorse ng mayor yung mga ganito kasi mas mapapadali yung employment kasi maraming job opportunities sa iisang lugar. Kesa yung pupunta ka pa sa ibang jobs na hiwa-hiwalay kaya mahirapan ka pa kasi more on expense pa kasi transpo, gas.”
Mirasol Escalante, newly hired Keds cashier also voiced her appreciation at how swift the process was.
“Madali po siya, kasi nag-apply po ako the past days, puro po tatawagan. Dito maganda po kasi, nandyan na po tapos sure na agad na-hire. Salamat po sa opportunity na ito, nagkaron po kami ng trabaho on the spot, yung sure na po, wala ng hassle,” she said.
“Thank you so much po sa job fair, after eight months po nakahanap po ako ng trabaho, ito na po yung hinhintay ko po na magkaroon po ng trabaho at ma-sustain yung pangangailangan ng family ko at sarili ko,” said Edward Combine who was hired by Sperry.
Meanwhile, one employer also shared his experience as one of the exhibitors in the job fair.
“I can tell you that this is one of the best experiences I’ve had in joining a job fair. It’s a good opportunity for us na may kumpanya who launched our site here in the area to introduce ourselves to the community. Our site is already near you guys, na instead na pupunta ka sa Makati, pupunta ka ng Cubao, Ortigas, you have an option right now sa mga residente to walk to the office, we are 5 minutes from West Crame, you don’t even need to spend money, if you want you can go home, spend some time with your family and go back after your break. Malaking tulong ‘to kasi hindi nila kailangan lumayo. The company is right at their doorstep,” stated Francis Putong, a recruitment director.