Aquino signs revised public service employment bill into law

President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law the bill amending the Philippine Employment Service Office (Peso) Act of 1999 in a bid to expand employment opportunities for Filipinos, particularly those living in rural areas.

The signing took place on Tuesday during the 15th National Peso Congress.

Aquino said the law would expand the presence of Pesos in provinces, municipalities and cities all throughout the country, where about five million job seekers managed to get employed from July 2010 to June 2015, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The amended Peso law also defined the role of DOLE, local government units, and accredited nongovernment organizations in the establishment and operation of the public employment service office and the operation of job placement offices in educational institutions.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the law “will transform Peso into a modern public employment service intermediary that provides multi-dimensional employment facilitation services all over the country.”

“It will ensure continued operation and sustainability of Pesos under the supervision of LGUs and the technical support of DOLE,” Baldoz said.

The revised measure provides that Pesos be community-based and largely maintained by LGUs, accredited NGOs or community-based organizations.

“Establishments and companies are now required to submit their job vacancies, as well as applicants hired, to the Peso to ensure the availability of accurate information on supply and demand for skills in the labor market,” Baldoz added. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC