By CESAR JOLITO III
A total of 46 job applicants were hired on the spot during the 2026 Valentine’s Day Job Fair organized by the Bacolod City government on February 14, reflecting sustained efforts to boost local employment.
Data from the Bacolod City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) showed that 3,653 applicants joined the one-day hiring event, composed of 1,672 males and 1,981 females.
Of the total, 2,895 applicants met or nearly matched employers’ qualifications, while dozens secured immediate employment.
The job fair, spearheaded by PESO under Manager Jovelyn Canoy, gathered more than 70 local and international companies offering positions in hospitality, retail, skilled services, business process outsourcing, and overseas employment.
Applicants who were not hired on the spot were endorsed for further screening, interviews, and processing, depending on company requirements.
Higher turnout than 2025
This year’s turnout surpassed the 1,934 applicants recorded during last year’s fair, where 30 were hired immediately.
The February 14 activity marked the 27th job fair conducted since the start of Mayor Greg Gasataya’s administration.
City officials said the consistent staging of job fairs forms part of the local government’s strategy to connect residents with employment opportunities and strengthen economic stability.
National agencies back initiative
Representatives from national government agencies also attended the event, including Carmella Abellar, chief of the Department of Labor and Employment – Negros Occidental Field Office, and Richard Aprosta, supervising labor employment officer of the Department of Migrant Workers.
Aprosta reminded applicants seeking overseas employment to transact only with licensed and verified recruitment agencies.
He disclosed that the Department of Migrant Workers recently assisted in the repatriation of 190 distressed migrant workers from Cambodia and urged jobseekers to remain vigilant against illegal recruitment schemes.
Abellar, meanwhile, encouraged applicants to continue upgrading their skills, noting that while employment rates may fluctuate, underemployment remains a challenge.
She urged jobseekers to take advantage of free government training programs if they are unable to secure work immediately.
Canoy expressed optimism that more Bacolodnons would find employment through PESO’s Valentine-themed program dubbed “Love at First Hire.”
Fresh graduate Danilo dela Torre, one of the applicants, said persistence is key in job hunting and thanked the city government for providing accessible avenues to both local and overseas employment./CJ, WDJ