To gear-up for another year of implementation of employment-related programs, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Federation and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office (BPO), held its Year-End Performance Assessment and 4th Quarter Meeting at the JMI Farm, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas on 20 December 2022.

The activity aims to measure the performance of the participants for 2022 and provide a venue to open opportunities for improvement in the delivery of employment programs and services.

With the drive to further promote stronger employment facilitation, PESO Managers and staff from different cities, municipalities, and higher education institutions attended the one-day activity.

PESOs are established in all provinces, cities, and municipalities and are operated and maintained by the Local Government Unit (LGU) to ensure prompt, timely, and efficient delivery of employment services as well as to provide timely information on labor market and DOLE programs down at the grass root level.

DOLE BPO Director Predelma M. Tan recognized the efforts of the PESOs in successfully implementing these programs, reiterating the essence of partnership between PESOs and the Department in realizing the goal of effective employment facilitation in the province.

This activity is one way of reviewing the relationship between PESO managers and the Department to look into ways on how it can improve its relationship and deepen its collaborative efforts.

To highlight the PESOs role in the implementation of the Department’s programs, important updates on the Monthly Employment Report (MER), Career Guidance and Employment Coaching (CGEC), PESO Institutionalization, and the Bayanihan Service Awards were discussed by Ms. April Rose Magpantay, DOLE BPO Employment Focal Person.

For 2023, the Federation and the DOLE BPO agreed to strengthen initiatives to realize activities that will not only empower the PESOs but more importantly provide better employment-related services to every Batangueño.

The services of the PESO are not only concentrated in urbanized and high income areas with a number of employment opportunities, but most especially to the most vulnerable sector of the society – the poor living in remote areas whereby government services are not readily accessible. More than the wage employment facilitation services, the PESO provides emergency employment, career guidance and counseling, referrals for livelihood assistance and training which includes skills and entrepreneurship training that are very much needed in some municipalities.

One of the highlights of the activity is the awarding of the 2021 Top Performing PESOs in the province to recognize its efforts and contribution in the attainment of DOLE mandates, most especially in employment-related crisis recovery initiatives, which was led by Director Tan.

The Department also awarded special citations in recognition of the PESO and Job Placement Office with programs on Anti-Illegal Recruitment.

DOLE BPO and the Batangas PESO Federation hope that the plans laid down for 2023 will succeed in order to realize the department’s mandate of providing full, decent, and productive employment for all.

by:

April Rose Magpantay
LEO III