City of San Fernando, PAMPANGA, May 2, 2023 - A total of 329 individuals were hired on the spot (HOTS) during the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Labor Day Job Fair across provinces in Central Luzon on May 1, 2023. 

According to Assistant Regional Director Alejandro Inza Cruz, some 2,575 job hopefuls flocked the five job fair sites organized by DOLE. “We are glad of the turnout of our job fairs. The 329 HOTS were as of 5:00pm cut-off and may still increase as near-hire applicants complete their requirements,” Inza Cruz explained.

DOLE, in partnership with DOT, SM Supermalls, Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), various local government units and national government agencies, held simultaneous job fairs at SM City Pampanga, SM City Marilao, SM City Cabanatuan, SM Olongapo Central, and SM City San Jose Del Monte, with SM Pampanga as its main regional site.

Based on its record, a total of 25,792 vacancies were offered during the job fair on May 1. 199 hired applicants were recorded at the SM Marilao job fair while 75 were logged at SM Pampanga job fair, 29 at SM CSJDM, 13 at SM Cabanatuan and another 13 at SM Olongapo Central.

One of the applicants, Mary Ann Pasana has been looking for a job for over a month until she was hired on the spot by Bioessence in the 2023 Labor Day Job Fair at SM Pampanga. 

In an interview, Mary Ann expressed her gratitude for the government’s initiatives such as the job fair. “Maraming itong natutulungang kababayan na wala pang trabaho lalo na possible na ma-hire on the spot. Maraming salamat dahil nagkaroon ng event na ganito at nagkaroon ng chance ang mga naghahanap ng trabaho,” Mary Ann said. 

Meanwhile, the celebration of Labor Day continues as two job fairs follow the May 1 run of activities by DOLE. 

On May 3, DOLE will conduct another job fair with 8,503 vacancies at People’s Center, Balanga City, together with awarding of livelihood projects and payout of Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) salaries to some 771 beneficiaries.

On May 4, the third job fair this week in Bulacan will be held at Bulacan Capitol Gym, Malolos City offering another 3,584 jobs. During the event, some 440 beneficiaries of DOLE’s cash-for-work program TUPAD will also receive their 10-day salaries. There will also be distribution of livelihood under DILP and a Kadiwa on Wheels in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

DOT-3 Regional Director Richard Daenos, City Administrator of City of San Fernando Engr. Nelson Lingat, Pampanga PESO Manager Luningning Vergara, and SM Pampanga Manager Aaron Jeffrey Montenegro graced the regional job fair site in San Fernando.

The labor day celebration bears the theme “Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”##