JOB CARAVAN FOR OLONGAPEÑOS AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS

The Olongapo City government brings its employment and livelihood assistance program directly to the barangays through the “Job Caravan”, a monthly job fair to be held in 14 barangays in Olongapo and in neighboring towns in Zambales.

Olongapo Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. noted the stream of employment and livelihood opportunities opening up vis-à-vis the flourishing business activities in the city, especially with SM Olongapo set to open soon and the Ayala Group’s Harbor Point a few months thereafter.

“This job caravan is one way of ensuring that the people of Olongapo and Zambales directly benefit from the opportunities that these investments are ushering in,” Gordon said, whose administration was recently honored by a prestigious business group with the “Most Business-Friendly LGU” award.

The job caravan will be launched on December 3, 2011, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, at Barangays New Ilalim, New Kababae, and New Banicain in Olongapo. Later on the job caravan will be held every last Saturday of the month in different barangays.

The city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will lead the job caravan, in partnership with Gordon College, the Livelihood and Cooperative Development Office, the City Social Welfare and Development Office and barangay officials.

The PESO staff will assist applicants on-site in preparing and encoding their resumes. This will be followed by “job-matching” with open positions.

The team will also attend to work-related problems especially among families of displaced or distressed OFWs. An information desk will also be set up for residents interested in applying for scholarship.

The other areas in the city to be covered by the job caravan are Barangays Pag-asa, West Tapinac, East Tapinac, New Kalalake, West Bajac-Bajac, East Bajac-Bajac, Gordon Heights, Mabayuan, Kalaklan, Baretto, Old Cabalan, Old Cabalan and Sta. Rita.

PESO will also conduct the same program in the towns of Subic, Castillejos and San Marcelino in Zambales.

“Pagpapatunay ito na ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ay hindi nagsasawang tumulong sa mga mamamayan na maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay,” said Atty. Gene Vincent Perez, PESO Officer-in-Charge.

The job caravan is a key project under the city government’s service and development blueprint called HELPS, which stands for health, education, environment, livelihood, peace and order, sports and social services. PAO