OFWs, grads line up early for Bulacan Labor Day job fair
Thousands of job seekers, including fresh graduates and hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the Middle East conflict, lined up as early as 7:00 a.m. on Friday at SM City Marilao, Bulacan for the annual Labor Day employment drive.
The job fair, organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), carried the theme “Disenteng Trabaho para sa Lahat; Isang Hangarin, Bagong Pilipinas Sama‑samang Mararating.”
Registration began at 8:00 a.m., followed by a ribbon‑cutting ceremony at 10:45 a.m. to officially open the event.
Marilao Mayor Jemina Mendoza Sy said the fair generated 2,054 job openings.
Thirty‑five local companies and two overseas firms accredited by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) participated, offering thousands of vacancies to Bulakenyos.
Applicants also benefited from a One‑Stop Shop, where they processed employment requirements with agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag‑IBIG Fund), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Overseas recruiters announced openings for skilled workers, caregivers, nurses, and farmers in Japan and Malaysia.
By noon, 459 applicants had registered, with 26 hired on the spot, a number DOLE expected to rise by the afternoon.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando earlier urged job seekers to arrive early to maximize their chances of immediate interviews and on‑the‑spot hiring.
He advised Bulacan’s youth to study hard, stressing that preparation is key to seizing the growing opportunities brought by the province’s progress.