PRESIDENT Benigno S. C. Aquino III is expected to celebrate Labor Day in Cebu.
He will attend a JobStart Employers forum to be attended by 200 youths.
Aquino’s presence for the May 1 forum was announced by
Exequiel R. Sarcauga, reigonal director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
He will be accompanied by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Undersecretray Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III.
The JobStart program allows employers to take in interns and provide them with life skills training.
“It’s a school-to-work transition. The program identifies possible beneficiaries and provides them with technical training which will be subsidized by the Asian Development Bank. They will be exposed to actual work,” Sarcauga said in a press conference.
Sarcauga said the ADB will pay employers P1,000 for each beneficiary’s training.
Over 200 beneficiaries are expected to attend the forum on May 1 at the J Centre Mall in Mandaue city. It will carry the theme, “Forging Partnership to Address Youth Unemployment.”
Sarcauga said testimonies will be given by employers, students, and local officials.
JobStart started a year ago in Central Luzon.
Also expected to attend the forum are Richard Bolt, ADB country director, and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder.
Other speakers are Kelly Bird, ADB director who will discuss Youth School to Work Transition; Dominique Tutay, director of Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) who will discuss the JobStart Philippines program objectives; and Christine
Margaret Atienza, president of Institute for Integrality, Inc. who will speak on the importance of Life Skills in the World of Work.
Other activities on May 1 include a solidarity run and caravan, zumba dancing, job fairs, a discount caravan, and a one-stop shop.
Kick-off points for the solidarity run are Talisay and Lapu-Lapu ciyt.
Job fairs will be held at the DOLE Cebu provincial field office, Abellana Sports Complex, Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu city, SM City Cebu and SM Consolacion.
The rest of the activities will be held at the Mandaue City Sports Complex from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on May 1.
There are about 220,000 unemployed persons in Central Visayas.
“The figures haven’t changed for many years. It’s been steady,” Sarcauga said.
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