Department of Labor and Employment-Caraga Director Jason Balais (center) leads the opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at a mall in Butuan City on Labor Day Friday (May 1, 2026). In addition to the job fair, the agency facilitated the release of livelihood assistance to groups and individuals. (Photo courtesy of DOLE-13)
BUTUAN CITY – The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair of the Department of Labor and Employment-Caraga Region (DOLE-13) at Robinsons Mall here opened at least 10,000 vacancies on Labor Day Friday.
Similar job fairs were also held in other provinces and cities in the region.
“Of the total job vacancies, 5,895 are up for grabs here in Butuan City, offered by 45 participating local employers,” the DOLE-13 said in a statement.
Three overseas employers also participated with 714 job opportunities.
After working for more than three years in a mall in Cebu City, Benilda Camino, 29, a resident of Pagatpatan, Butuan City, returned to the city to look after her parents.
“I am seeking office work or any position in department stores. My more than three years of experience working in a mall, from customer attendant to office work, will help me find jobs at this fair,” Camino said in an interview.
She added that she learned about the job fair last week and immediately prepared her papers and other pertinent documents.
“Based on my experience, job fairs such as this serve as a venue where companies can hire from within the community. I recognized some employers from Butuan City, and I already submitted my application letter and credentials to them,” Camino said.
Another job seeker, Mon Salcedo, 25, a father of two and a resident of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, arrived early to look for a job suited to his credentials.
“I am a carpenter and a mason and have worked with big construction projects in the last three years,” Salcedo said.
He noted that he also attended a DOLE job fair two years ago and was hired by a construction company.
“Job fairs help job seekers like me to find decent jobs. I am thankful to the government, especially to DOLE, for this opportunity,” Salcedo said.
As of 1 p.m. on Friday, DOLE-13 reported that 87 applicants were hired on the spot.
Maria Mae Garcia, an applicant from Barangay Bonbon, was among them.
She was hired as a service crew member by Wizard Manpower and Allied Services, one of the 45 employers who joined the job fair.
“Job fairs during Labor Day by the DOLE give great opportunities to job seekers to meet employees in one venue and give us big savings in terms of time and expenses. I am thankful to the government,” Garcia said.
Livelihood support
Meanwhile, DOLE-13 also facilitated the awarding of livelihood support amounting to PHP4.3 million to 11 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from different provinces.
Each MSME received PHP400,000 to support business enhancement and adaptation measures.
The agency also released PHP17.2 million in funding under its DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program to 624 individual beneficiaries across the region.
Two accredited partners of the agency, Barangay Tolosa in Cabadbaran City and Barangay 9 in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, received over PHP2 million in funding for milkfish production and the High-Density Polyethylene cage project.
Kadiwa ng Pangulo
In addition, a Kadiwa ng Pangulo featured five local enterprises composed of farmers’ associations.
“Each enterprise was represented by three sellers who are also beneficiaries of the agency’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program,” the DOLE-13 said.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to integrate emergency employment beneficiaries into sustainable livelihoods and enterprise development.
As of 1 p.m., the Kadiwa ng Pangulo has generated PHP33,942 in gross sales, the DOLE-13 said. (PNA)