By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

Based on a March assessment by the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), which found the Iloilo Public Employment Service Office (PESO) ranked among the highest in readiness, the province was selected as one of 15 areas where the JobStart Philippines Program will launch.
Intended as a youth employment facilitation program, the program is a project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and Canadian government.
“We are grateful that we qualified in the selection of pilot sites,” said Iloilo PESO chief Francisco Heler, Jr. “This partnership will beef-up our existing job facilitation activities for the youth in the province.”
JobStart prepares young Filipinos between the ages of 18 and 24 for employment by providing them with career coaching, life skills and technical training, and internships with partner employers.
Based on skills, participants are referred to partner employers for interviews and placement.
A three-month training with employers commences, with and another three months spent for an internship.
JobStart fully funds the ten-day life skills training program and provides a P200 daily allowance. A grant will also be provided to employers to cover the training costs and the allowance./WDJ