Central Visayas unemployment dips in January

CEBU, Philippines — The unemployment rate in Central Visayas for January slid to 5.2 percent from the 5.8 percent recorded in the same month last year.

Salome Siaton, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 regional director, attributed the drop to the improved “quality of jobs.”

 “Decline in unemployment rate indicates improved quality of jobs,” she said in yesterday’s press conference.

As for the region’s employment rate, it increased by 0.6 percent from last year’s 94.2 percent, said Siaton.

She said the conduct of job fairs has also helped in easing unemployment.

DOLE partners with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), local government units and private firms in the conduct of job fairs.

“Decent jobs and livelihood opportunities are offered to those seeking jobs,” said Siaton.

She said job opportunities are not only limited to jobless Filipinos but also to foreign nationals.

He said the department will issue work permits to aliens wanting to work here once all requirements are complied with.

As of March 20 this year, the regional office has received 463 Alien Employment Permits (AEP) applications.

On the other hand, DOLE said it has strengthened its ties with PESO in a bid to bring its programs and services closer to the people especially those in the far-flung areas.

“Being the DOLE’s reliable intermediary in providing employment facilitation services to the public, the PESOs play a very important role in the economic well-being of jobseekers, the youth, and all clients who are looking for employment facilitation assistance,” said Siaton.

She said DOLE has created a livelihood or Kabuhayan program for the informal sector.

“It would be very beneficial for the people particularly for the informal sector workers especially those in highly remote areas if they could get easy access to our livelihood program and other services through the PESOs in their respective localities,” she said. — USC Intern Tanja Catherine R. Stöckli  KBQ (FREEMAN)