“Bawat pamilyang Cabuyeño ay magkakaroon ng trabaho.”
That has been the main goal of the Cabuyao City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) since Mayor Dennis “Denha” Hain took office in 2022.
Now, as the Hain administration enters its second term, PESO head Karlo Hain believes his department has laid down the foundations of ensuring sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities for the city’s residents.
This has given them the ideal opportunity to expand the department's mandate – this time, in ensuring that all Cabuyeños, regardless of social standing, age or physical abilities, will be able to provide for their families.
"Tapos na po kami sa level na kung saan itinatatag po natin ang mga programa. Ngayon po, ang focus namin ay ang pag-sustain ng mga programa, gayundin po sa kung anu-ano pong mga programa ang pwede nating i-offer sa iba't ibang mga sektor ng ating lungsod," Karlo Hain told OpinYon Laguna in an interview.
Accommodating
Two major priority sectors the Cabuyao PESO is now preparing to give more opportunities are senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), Hain disclosed.
Aside from encouraging private companies to hire senior citizens and PWDs, the Cabuyao PESO is also making job fairs and other events more inclusive for PWDs.
"For instance po, this year, meron po kaming opportunities for the deaf and mute kung saan po ini-interview sila through a sign-language interpreter. Around 30 PWDs po ang hired on the spot during one occasion," Hain said.
The Cabuyao City LGU has also initiated training for local departments and barangays for Filipino sign language, in order to accommodate deaf and mute applicants.
PDLs also priority
Another pioneering project of the Cabuyao PESO is the "Project Rehas (Rehabilitation, Employment, Hope, Aspiration, Sustainable Livelihood)," which focuses on persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and those who have been recently released from prison.
"Alam naman po natin na napakahirap po para sa ating mga PDL at bagong-laya na makahanap ng trabaho, mainly dahil sa societal stigma na dala ng kanilang pagkakakulong," Hain explained.
The "Project Rehas" program, in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Junior Chambers International (JCI) Cabuyao chapter, aims to provide employment opportunities for families of PDLs and those undergoing rehabilitation, as well as providing skills for PDLs that they can use when they are released.
Preparing for the future
As had been said before, the Cabuyao PESO under Hain has focused not only on providing employment but also on preparing and helping Cabuyeño youths in advancing their own employment prospects.
"Lumalago na po ang Career Orientation program natin para sa mga kabataan, to the point that even private schools are now joining our programs," Hain now reported.
In fact, the Cabuyao PESO has employed so-called "AI employability coaches" who utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to help Cabuyeños find the jobs that best match their skills.
Under the directive of Mayor Dennis Hain, the Cabuyao PESO is also focusing on residents who have no formal education but the skills needed for employment, as well as for residents with “particular” skills that can be suited for specific jobs.
“We’re now looking into the creation of a ‘skill bank,’ or a database kung saan ililista po natin yung mga potentials ng mga nag-aapply sa atin, tapos kapag may naghahanap na mga caterers or event organizers, may maire-refer na po kami sa kanila,” Hain added.
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