Cooperative organizations could (and should) serve their communities not only through sustainable livelihood but also by offering employment opportunities to the residents of their localities.
That was the message of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Calabarzon regional office as it held its Cooperatives Job Fair 2024 at the Pacita Astrodome in San Pedro City, Laguna last March 13.
Over 7,000 vacant positions were offered to job-seekers by 29 various cooperatives based in Calabarzon, according to CDA specialist Celeste Castro, including the food industry, business and marketing industries, administrative sector, and electronics and information industry.
In a recent media interview, Castro expressed her belief that the job fair will not only leave a significant impact on boosting the employment rate but will also help them in promoting the positive results of joining cooperatives.
“It will help promote CDA and this will also serve as a social activity for the economic development of our country,” Castro explained.
The CDA regional office has also tied up with other national and provincial government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Laguna, provincial government of Laguna, the city government of San Pedro through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO) headed by Rochelle Cariño; and Union of Legitimate Service Contracting Cooperatives to ensure that the job fair will be effective and productive for all.
A total of 149 applicants attended the job fair, during which 19 were hired on the spot, Cariño told OpinYon Laguna.
Aside from the services offered by various government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the CDA and the city government of San Pedro also offered free food and drinks to job applicants, as well as free hygiene kits for women as part of celebrating National Women's Month.
For his part, San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado expressed his gratitude to the CDA and the cooperatives who joined the event for helping his administration achieve its goal of providing employment for all San Pedrenses.
“Lagi po nating sinasabi na lagi pong naririto ang ating city government upang tulungan ang ating mga kababayan... Napakaimportante po sa ating administrasyon ang pagkakaroon po ng hanapbuhay ng bawat San Pedrense, kaakibat ang ating pangarap upang maging 'Una sa Laguna,'" Mercado emphasized.
(Report by Catherine Go/Additional reports from PIA Laguna)
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