DOLE orients Surigao Sur PESO managers on JobStart program
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
SAN AGUSTIN, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — In support of the national agenda of promoting youth empowerment and decent employment opportunities under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Surigao del Sur convened Public Employment Service Office (PESO) managers from across the province for an orientation on the JobStart Philippines Program (JSP) .\The activity recently took place during the monthly meeting of PESO Managers’ Association of the Philippines (PESOMAP)-Surigao del Sur monthly meeting at Alameda Farm in San Agustin town.
The orientation aimed to strengthen the capacity of local government units (LGUs) in implementing the JobStart Program, a flagship initiative of DOLE designed to prepare young Filipinos for gainful employment through life skills training, career coaching, technical courses, and internships with private employers.
Marjorie Y. Miole, labor and employment officer II of DOLE–Surigao del Sur, emphasized that JobStart supports the national goal of reducing youth unemployment and building a future-ready Filipino workforce by addressing the skills mismatch between job seekers and industry needs.
“JobStart creates a win-win situation for both our youth and employers. It equips young people with the necessary skills and work experience, while giving businesses access to qualified and motivated workers,” Miole said.
The DOLE–Surigao del Sur led by Genebelle Bal shared that the program, already implemented in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte, has proven effective in bridging the gap between education and employment, significantly increasing job placement rates, and ensuring that young Filipinos gain productive, decent, and sustainable livelihoods. This success directly contributes to the administration’s thrust toward inclusive and equitable economic growth under the Bagong Pilipinas vision.
Through this capacity-building initiative, DOLE aims to prepare PESO managers in Surigao del Sur for the eventual rollout of JobStart, ensuring that local implementation aligns with the government’s broader goals of employment generation and human capital development.
PESO managers expressed optimism about the program’s potential to open new opportunities for the province’s young workforce.
“The program is very useful, especially since we have many unemployed and undertrained youth. With JobStart, we can help our constituents gain the skills and employment opportunities they need,” said Laine S. Elechicon, PESO manager of Bislig City.
With sustained coordination among DOLE, local PESOs, and industry partners, Surigao del Sur is positioning itself to become a JobStart-ready province, empowering its youth with the tools, confidence, and opportunities to contribute to a Bagong Pilipinas that uplifts communities through employment, skills, and hope. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)