NEWS

Nearly 70,000 Hired at Kalayaan 2009 Mega Job and Livelihood Fair
31 July 2009

Around 70,000 jobseekers were hired during the Kalayaan 2009 Mega Job and Livelihood Fair held simultaneously in 16 regions across the country last June 12 – 14, 2009.

In an interview with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Criselda Sy by Philstar.com, she stated that an initial 67,408 jobseekers from all over the country who attended the first two days of the Independence Day job fair were hired immediately by private firms and government agencies who participated in the event. Director Sy added that from the said number, 56, 299 were hired to work for the government's emergency program.

The Mega Job and Livelihood Fair offered around 400,000 local and overseas jobs; some 64,000 job vacancies offered by government agencies , 63,000 job vacancies from private companies, and 273,00 land and sea-based opportunities abroad from recruitment agencies.

Aside from job offerings, 150,000 workers in 16 regions were awarded Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) services during the event. The beneficiaries included 56,453 workers who were granted emergency employment. Another 32,982 workers received training scholarships while 67,822 workers received livelihood assistance.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza and DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte led the opening of Kalayaan 2009 Mega Job and Livelihood Fair at the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, in front of Quirino Grandstand. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the simultaneous raising of the Philippine Flag at Koronadal City, South Cotabato. The theme of this year's Independence Day Celebration is “Kagitingan, Kagalingan, at Kasipagan: Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan”.

The Kalayaan 2009 Mega Job and Livelihood Fair replaced the traditional Independence Day Parade celebration to help fresh graduates and workers affected by the global economic crisis find jobs to support their families. The nationwide job fair was held simultaneously in the following cities in the country.

CAR
- Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City

Region 1
- CSI City Mall, San Fernando City, Pampanga

Region 2
- Cagayan National High School Mamba Gym, Tuguegarao

Region 3
- Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan (June 12 – 13);
Event Center, SM City, Baliuag, Bulacan; (June 14)

Region 4-A
- Calamba City Hall, Laguna (June 12-14);
Kawit Aguinaldo Shrine, Cavite (June 12);
Imus Plaza, Cavite (June 13-14)

Region 4-B
- Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro (June 12);
Calapan City,Oriental Mindoro (June 13 - 14)

Region 5
- Albay Astrodome, Legazpi City

Region 6
- Amigo Plaza Mall Activity Center, Iloilo City

Region 7
- SM Cebu City

Region 8
- Astrodome, Tacloban City

Region 9
- Summit Center Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City (June 12);
Molave Gymnasium, Zamboanga del Sur (June 13);
Siay Gymnasium, Zamboanga Sibugay (June 14);

Region 10
- Provincial Capitol Ground, Cagayan de Oro City (June 11-12);
SM Cagayan de Oro Car Park, Cagayan de Oro City (June 13-14)

Region 11
- NCC Mall, Matina, Davao City

Region 12
- Rizal Park, Koronadal City (June 12-14);
KCC Mall Convention Center, Gen. Santos City (June 13-14)

CARAGA
- Almond Inland Hotel, Butuan City

ARMM
- Shariff Aguak (June 12, 2009)

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:

Jaymalin, Mayen, Philstar.com 70,000 new graduates hired. (Posted June 15, 2009) Retrieved June 15, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=477792&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DOLE Information and Publication Service. More than 150 thousand workers awarded with emergency jobs, training and livelihood assistance at Independence Day sites (Posted June 13, 2009) Retrieved June 15, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002343

Burgonio, TJ, and Quennie Ann J. Palafox, Philippine Daily Inquirer. 300,000 jobs available on Independence Day. (Posted June 12, 2009) Retrieved June 15, 2009 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090612-210056/300,000_jobs_available_on_Independence_Day

DOLE Information and Publication Service. Almost 400 thousand jobs offered at Independence Day Job Fair (Posted June 11, 2009) Retrieved June 15, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002342

Gov.ph. PGMA leads celebration of RP's 111th Independence Day Friday; nationwide rites highlight jobs generation
http://www.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2000815&Itemid=2