DOLE: Job fair for Calabarzon Pogo workers set in December

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to conduct another special job fair for Filipino workers in Calabarzon that would be affected by the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing Thursday, Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) director Patrick Patriwirawan said the event would be held on Dec. 6.

“This is part of our employment facilitation services,” he said.

Last week, the DOLE held a job fair for POGO workers to provide employment opportunities to affected employees since the industry would cease operations in the country by Dec. 31.

The SM Mall of Asia-Music Hall in Pasay City was the venue of the two-day job fair last Nov. 19 and 20, where 38 POGO workers were hired on the spot, out of the 298 jobseekers from the industry.

At the same time, Patriwirawan said the department is also helping POGO workers process their unemployment insurance benefits, to which 435 applicants have so far applied.

He said these workers are also being referred to the nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for job matching and career development support services.

House POGO hearings

Meanwhile, Manila 6th District Rep. and House Quad Committee co-chairman Bienvenido Abante is looking to wrap up the hearings on POGOs by next month to focus its attention on the illegal drugs and extra-judicial killings (EJKs) issues.

“We are looking to finish the hearings on POGO in December,” he said at the ‘Balitaan sa Harbor View’ forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA).

At the same time, he opined that Vice President Sara Duterte “should confine herself to helping people instead of attacking people”.

While noting that impeachment is out of their minds, Abante said the case of the Vice President may lead to plunder, based on the details and the amount of money involved which is now the subject of an investigation in Congress.

He also branded former president Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ intervention amid the current political situation as “very dangerous and reckless”.

Abante also lauded the military for its non-partisan stance and upholding its loyalty to the people, country and the Constitution.

He also slammed Duterte for sowing disunity and questioned the propriety of his remarks, especially since he is a former commander-in-chief.

On the call of the Catholic Church for a stop to the political bickerings, Abante said this does not cover the series of congressional investigations, which according to him are not political but issues-based.

“We are here to demand accountability and right the wrongs,” Abante said, adding that the purpose of the House investigation on important issues is to get answers, pinpoint accountability and prevent a repeat of the same wrongdoing in the future. (PNA)