OVER 60 jobseekers were hired on the spot (HOTS) as of 3 p.m. during the Kalayaan Job Fair 2023 held at SM City Annex Event Center on June 12.
A short program was hosted at the fair, giving prizes to the first four HOTS applicants: John Ryan Tomado, Jonah Arsenio, Charlyn Advana, and Anna Mae Ladera. It was then followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially opening the event to the public.
With the theme, “Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan,” the event celebrates the 125th Independence Day by providing job opportunities to individuals in search of employment.
Ten local and eight international companies participated at the Kalayaan Job fair, receiving more than 100 applications hours before the mall opening and utilizing the first and second floor spaces of the Annex.
The lower annex, where the event center is located, contained the pre-registration assisted by the employees from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Applicants’ interviews, meanwhile, were conducted in another section.
Out of 800 total applicants, near hires count to 34 male and 22 female applicants, while the total qualified applicants were 45 males and 61 females. Meanwhile, a total of 18 male and 27 female applicants were mismatched.
In an interview with Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy, DOLE XI regional director, presented the data for Davao City’s employment rate.
“Ang latest nato sa employment rate is 96 to 97% or 96.5%. Ang atong unemployment naa sa 3% something (our latest employment rate is 96 to 97 percent or estimated of 96.5%, and our unemployment is something on 3%.) Naa ta’y 30 local employers og nag hatag sila’g job vacancies na ilahang pagasudlan mao ni ang 2,865 jobs locally. Naa ta’y 9 ka overseas employers og atong job vacancies is 2,707. Bisan walay formal sectors na employment naa ta’y informal sectors na i-open para sa panginabuhian “(We do have 30 local employers, and they provided job vacancies for those employers, and the jobs locally has a total of 2,865. We also have nine overseas employers, and our job vacancies are about 2,707. Even though we do not have any formal sectors for employment, we have informal sectors open for all job seekers).”
Davao City, in recent years, was at the extreme bottom rate for unemployment due to the pandemic. However, the employment rate as of today has increased since most of the establishments are now open for hiring, and they are looking for new applicants, which is suitable and gives relevance for the job seekers.
Pensoy also discussed the inclusivity of this event to Persons with Disability (PWD) applicants. It is mandated by the government for the public sector to hire at least 1% of PWD. Still, he also encourages the private establishments to do the same, as it depends on their management on what position to open for the PWDs.
Farrah Mae Suela, one of the HOTS applicants, describes her Job Fair application experience and encourages fellow applicants not to lose hope when facing rejection from job interviews
“Luckily dito sa job fair ng Kalayaan na hired on-the-spot ako. Dili man jud totally na 100% kailangan jud ug work experience, dili kailangan na i-down ang sarili na ay siya ma hired on-the-spot then ako tawagan lang kay wala koy experience. Confidence lang jud sa sarili og dili mawad-an og paglaum.” (Luckily, I got hired at the Kalayaan Job fair. You do not need to have work experience; you also do not have to put yourself down and compare yourself to those hired on-the-spot just because you do not have experience. You need to have self-confidence and never lose hope),” she said.
