In a welcome pre-Christmas boost, 16 job seekers secured immediate employment at the annual holiday job fair organized by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Bacolod City.
A Festive Opportunity for Employment
The successful event took place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at the Bacolod City Government Center. According to PESO-Bacolod Coordinator Jovelyn Canoy, the fair was conducted following the directive of Mayor Greg Gasataya to open up employment avenues for local residents during the holiday period. "We are glad to assist our job applicants in finding employment opportunities as we welcome Christmas and the New Year," Canoy stated, reaffirming the city government's dedication to job creation programs.
Strong Participation and Year-Round Impact
The job fair featured a robust turnout from the private sector, with more than 40 participating companies aiming to assist up to 6,000 applicants from the city. This event is part of a broader, year-round effort by PESO-Bacolod. Official records reveal that from January to November 21, 2025, over 700 companies posted a total of 112,155 job vacancies through the office, leading to the hiring of 1,585 individuals.
A Life-Changing Christmas Gift
Among those who received an early Christmas present was John Sidrian Arguelles, a resident of Barangay Banago. After being unemployed for almost two months, the former service crew member was hired as a mason by a construction firm present at the fair. "I just tried applying and never expected to be the first one to land a job before Christmas," shared Arguelles. He emphasized that this new opportunity will be crucial in supporting his family, particularly his seven-month-old daughter.
The success of the Christmas Job Fair underscores the vital role of local government initiatives in directly connecting Filipino workers with employers, providing tangible hope and stability for families as the year ends.
