A total of 62 workers displaced by the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) ban were hired on the spot during the first day of a two-day special job fair hosted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
In a televised interview, Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Patrick Patriwirawan said the newly hired workers were among 434 applicants who joined the event.
“This represents a 14 percent placement rate, aligning with the typical performance of our regular job fairs,” he said.
The job fair offered 10,331 employment opportunities, with 790 employers participating in the event.
These opportunities spanned various sectors, including business process outsourcing, retail and sales, accommodation, food services, construction, transport, and logistics.
The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to DOLE to assist workers affected by the closure of POGO firms, which has impacted an estimated 79,735 Filipino and foreign employees.