Iloilo City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday committed to sustaining support for graduating members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) through job fairs designed to open employment opportunities for them. Marcos made this assurance while attending the 'Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas' fair organized by the Office of the President at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz, Iloilo City.
According to Philippines News Agency, the event, dubbed Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas Para sa 4Ps, aims to transition from short-term relief to sustainable livelihood by facilitating skills matching between the beneficiaries and potential employers. The job-matching occasion serves as a venue for participants to exhibit their skills, providing diverse job opportunities and pre-employment assistance.
A total of 3,000 4Ps beneficiaries from Iloilo province are expected to gain from the fair. Among these participants, 339 are from Oton town, 40 from Pavia, 52 from Leganes, 225 from Sta. Barbara, and 2,344 from Iloilo City. The targeted beneficiaries will undergo pre-employment orientation from partner agencies and will also receive food assistance worth PHP3,000 each through the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.
The DSWD, via its Sustainable Livelihood Program, will also provide employment assistance to those hired on the spot. Participants will be evaluated under the Employment Facilitation Track for the Employment Assistance Fund, offering up to PHP5,000 each for pre-employment requirements like police and National Bureau of Investigation clearances, medical examinations, birth certificates, school diplomas, and tax identification numbers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) played a crucial role in facilitating the job fair by inviting 27 DOLE job fair employers. Additionally, the event featured the Kadiwa ng Pangulo by the Department of Agriculture, where 42 participants could sell basic commodities and agricultural products at reasonable prices, providing 4Ps beneficiaries access to more affordable essential goods.