Thousands of beneficiaries set to graduate in December 2013 from the Pantawid Pamilya program queued to register for the Job Fair in May 30, 2013 at Malapatan Municipal Plaza, Malapatan Sarangani.

Spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII, the activity dubbed “Job Fair for the workers in the informal economy” is first of its kind.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII was able to record a total of 1,640 beneficiaries, 770 from Maasim and 870 from Malapatan. They were given the priority to apply for the local and overseas companies that participated in the activity.

Local companies included Alliance Food Select International, MMML Recruitment Services, ANR Unlimited, Tuna Exporters Multi-Purpose Coop. (TEMPCO), Gensan Manpower Services Coop. and Human Resources Multi-Purpose Coop. (HUREMPCO). Meanwhile, World Quest International Manpower Services Inc., Zontar Manpower Services Inc. and Mirben International manpower Services were among overseas agencies that participated.

Moreover, booths for social benefits such as the National Statistics Office (NSO), PhilHealth, PESO, Social Security System (SSS), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Health (DOH) were made available for applicants’ convenience.

“We believe that the partnership of DSWD with DOLE and other groups could help improve the lives of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, from survival status to self- sufficiency” said Assistant Regional Director Gemma N. Rivera.