Mandaue prepares students for work

THE Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Mandaue city government is conducting “employment coaching” sessions with graduating students of public national high schools to prepare them for employment in case they will not proceed to college.

The project, implemented in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), was conceived by the administration due to the fact that many could not continue to college because of poverty.

The session includes a lecture from PESO on available job vacancies, labor standards from DOLE and illegal recruitment from POEA.

“This serves as a motivation for high school graduates and undergraduates that there are bright opportunities that await them,” said Musoline Suliva, head of PESO-Mandaue.

Last week, 374 graduating students including 53 from the night school of Canduman National High School, gathered at the school’s open court for the “employment coaching” session.

Rheaflor Ylanan, a MAPE teacher, said this is a good chance for their graduates to look for opportunities.

Ylanan, who graduated with honors as a working student, said poverty should not be made a hindrance to getting a degree.

“Working is one alternative since I am not sure if my parents can send me to college,” said Naicy Mae Flores, 16, from Canduman Housing whose father is a trisikad driver and whose mother is a mall saleslady.

Dr. Mercy Demoral, school principal, said since the students are still under-age to work, they can take technical skills for free at the Mandaue City College.