Job seekers gather at mega job fair in Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — Hundreds of hopeful job seekers recently gathered at the City Mall in Surigao City for the “Tara Trabaho, G?” Mega Job Fair.
Held on October 26, the activity opened doors to local and overseas employment opportunities through collaborative efforts spearheaded by the Surigao City government, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Office of Senate President Win Gatchalian.
The venue was packed with activity as participating local companies and accredited overseas recruitment agencies conducted on-site interviews, evaluated resumes, and made immediate job placements.
In addition to recruitment booths, key government agencies offered one-stop shop services, allowing applicants to process essential employment clearances and documents on-site.
Antonio Rafols, a representative from the senator’s office, said the primary goal of the ‘Tara Trabaho, G?’ initiative is to bridge the gap for skilled, hardworking Filipinos.
“We remain committed to partnering with local government units and DOLE to ensure that progress reaches every corner of our provinces. Seeing Surigaonons secure jobs today brings us closer to our shared vision of economic resilience and dignity of labor for every family,” Rafols said.
Brix Merlin, senior labor and employment officer of DOLE Surigao del Norte, said events like the ‘Tara Trabaho, G?’ Mega Job Fair play a crucial role in lowering unemployment and streamlining the recruitment process.
“Through close coordination with local PESO offices and partner stakeholders, we are bringing employment services directly to the people, helping job seekers save time, effort, and resources while matching them with legitimate employers,” he added.
On behalf of the city government of Surigao, Councilor Jonel Aldonza said, “The city government, together with PESO, is dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for our constituents. We extend our deep gratitude to DOLE and the Office of Senate President Win Gatchalian for selecting Surigao City as a venue for this transformative program. We will continue to foster partnerships that yield direct benefits and economic empowerment for our local workforce.”
For many job-seekers, the activity delivered life-changing results, with several applicants landing employment offers on the spot.
Clara Senuel, a 24-year-old city resident and recent graduate, secured a position as a customer service representative during the event. “I came here with multiple copies of my resume, hoping to land at least in the initial interview. I never expected to leave the venue with an official job offer in hand. This fair saved me so much time and money from traveling to various offices in the city to submit applications. I am deeply grateful to the Surigao City government, PESO, DOLE, and Senator Win Gatchalian for bringing this opportunity directly to us.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers Caraga also joined the event, with Regional Director Ritchel M. Bulatao highlighting the strong link between local employment initiatives and overseas job opportunities.
The success of the “Tara Trabaho, G?” Mega Job Fair underscored the ongoing impact of public-private partnerships in boosting local labor markets and providing accessible employment avenues across the region. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)
