Nearly 300 graduating senior high school students in the Leyte provinces were hired on the spot during job fairs intended for Grade 12 completers, the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday.
Conducted in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair 2026 was held in Baybay City and Hinunangan, Southern Leyte on March 25, drawing nearly 700 applicants.
“This is the first specialized job fair for SHS (senior high school) learners, aimed to prepare job seekers by providing free pre-employment documents, skills support, and direct access to hiring institutions,” DOLE 8 (Eastern Visayas) information officer Norma Mae Costimiano said.
In Hinunangan, more than 400 job seekers registered, with at least 20 hired on the spot, mostly in local employment, such as sales and retail, according to Costimiano.
In Baybay City, about 277 SHS students participated, with a 100 percent hired-on-the-spot placement rate, Costimiano added.
The job fair featured on-the-spot interviews, résumé assistance, and employment facilitation, with participation from agencies such as the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine Statistics Authority, as well as private firms and local businesses.
The DOLE and DepEd will hold similar job fairs in Samar and Biliran provinces within the year, providing opportunities for graduating students to earn for their families. (PNA)