Dagupan to Implement JobStart Philippines Program

The city of Dagupan was chosen as one of the 15 areas in the country for the implementation of a youth employment facilitation program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) called JobStart Philippines Program.

This was disclosed by Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) Manager Jocelyn Z. Siapno who said Dagupan City was chosen as a beneficiary of the program after being assessed having a High Level of Readiness.

Mayor Belen Fernandez is scheduled to sign a Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) with DOLE Region 1 Regional Director by the second or third week of June in connection with the implementation of the program.

The program is an undertaking of DOLE, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Canada, which seeks to assist young Filipinos in starting their careers and finding meaningful employment.

According to DOLE, the program aims to enhance the knowledge and skills acquired by job seekers in formal education or technical training for them to become more responsive to the demands of the labor market.

The program will also help develop the life skills of the youth, including those relevant to the values of professionalism and work appreciation, and provide trainees with conducive and safe work environment or venue where they can apply relevant theories and proper work ethics.

Siapno said this is designed to improve the capacity of PESOs in providing full-cycle employment facilitation services to benefit at-risk youth.

DOLE will conduct a planning workshop on June 28-30 to orient and enhance the capacity of program implementers. (LVM/PNA)