By Philippine News Agency Some 500 Senior High School (SHS) graduates in the Soccsksargen region have been hired by local companies in a series of job fairs facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) since last month. Sisinio Cano, DOLE 12 (Soccsksargen) director, said Thursday the newly hired workers have already begun in their assigned placements while others are being trained by their employers. Cano said most of the hired senior high graduates were skilled workers and holders of national certifications issued by the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). "They were all hired as regular workers," he said. Cano said they launched the region's first-ever job fairs exclusive to SHS graduates in coordination with the Public Employment Services Offices of local government units. He said the activity aims to facilitate access to employment for the region's first batch of graduates under the K to 12 education program. Based on the consolidated report submitted by their field offices, the DOLE official said the job fairs generated a total of 3,486 registered applicants and 4,903 job vacancies, mostly for local placements. He said the labor department will continue to assist the Department of Education to ensure that SHS graduates will have access to job opportunities. “Through the job fairs, senior high graduates will have the chance to land jobs that fit their skills and other qualifications," he said. Cano said they may also assist them in starting their own businesses in partnership with other government agencies, such as TESDA and the Department of Trade and Industry. He said they are currently consolidating data generated from the job fairs to properly evaluate the readiness of SHS graduates who are entering the workforce. DOLE-12 hopes to create a collective impact to better address the competency and critical skills requirements among graduates, he said. Cano added that the results of the initiative will assist stakeholders in developing approaches to improve the SHS curriculum and develop strategies on how industry players can collaborate with the academe in preparing SHS students and graduates for work.