A total of 1,550 job seekers registered during the 10th job fair organized by the Lapu-Lapu City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on Friday, May 14, 2026. The event, dubbed "Job Fair sa Mahi Center," was held in partnership with the Mahi Center and the Mactan Economic Zone Human Resource Association.
Record Turnout and On-the-Spot Hiring
PESO manager Kim Francisco reported that 898 of the applicants were female, while 652 were male. The job fair resulted in 327 applicants being hired on the spot, including 204 males and 123 females. Francisco described the outcome as unprecedented, noting that the office had estimated only 600 to 800 attendees. "We did not expect that many job seekers to flock to the event because we were only estimating around 600 to 800 attendees," he said.
Factors Behind the High Turnout
Francisco attributed the large turnout to several factors, including the increasing number of senior high school and college graduates entering the labor force and competing for available jobs. Most of the vacancies were for production workers, particularly from companies inside the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ). The strategic location of the Mahi Center near the economic zone and the wide range of participating employers may have also contributed to the turnout.
Employer Participation and Job Vacancies
A total of 28 employers participated in the activity, offering 1,421 job vacancies from industries such as hotels, hospitality, malls, supermarkets, English as a Second Language (ESL) schools, and manpower agencies.
Demographics and Future Job Fairs
Based on PESO data, most applicants in previous job fairs were aged 18 to 25. Francisco described this age group as part of the workforce's productive years and the preferred demographic for many entry-level positions. PESO initially aimed to conduct job fairs quarterly, but increasing demand for employment programs has prompted the office to hold as many as three job fairs a month.
Upcoming Job Fairs
PESO has lined up two more job fairs this May: a Barangay Job Fair on May 21 at Canjulao Elementary School in Barangay Canjulao, and another job fair on May 28 at Rizwoods Colleges in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.
