The Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of Davao City has been recognized as a top performer in the region, securing an impressive nine awards for its employment initiatives in 2025.
A Sweep of Honors at the Regional PESO Congress
On November 27, 2025, during the 3rd Regional PESO Congress in Digos City, Davao del Sur, the Davao City PESO stood out as a major awardee. The office was honored for its consistent and effective delivery of programs connecting job seekers with employers. The accolades received include:
- Outstanding Job Fair Implementation Award
- Certificate of Appreciation for promoting inclusive employment for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs)
- Program Implementation Awards for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and for Jobstart
- Top Performer in Labor Market Information (LMI) Services
- Top Performer for Career Guidance and Coaching
- PESO Referral Award for meeting or exceeding 100% of targets
- Outstanding Placement Achievement Award
- PEIS Active Utilization Award
Record-Breaking Numbers and Inclusive Programs
According to PESO Head Lilibeth Pantinople, who spoke to the City Information Office on December 10, 2025, Davao City was the sole recipient in the entire Davao Region of the special Certificate of Recognition for supporting the employment of PWDs and Senior Citizens. This recognition stems from recently launched programs developed in collaboration with private partners.
The city's performance in 2025 was marked by significant figures. It conducted 41 job fairs, registering 12,242 applicants. These events resulted in 1,039 near hires and 805 individuals hired on the spot, with participation from 671 companies. The total vacancies posted, for both local and overseas positions, reached a remarkable 68,662.
Furthermore, the office supported 548 grantees under the SPES program and 85 beneficiaries of the Jobstart program, with 51 of those Jobstart graduates being absorbed by companies. While Davao City led in Job Fair and SPES implementation, it shared the Jobstart program award with Tagum and Panabo cities.
National Leadership and Consistent Performance
Pantinople highlighted that Davao City is the nation's most active user of the Public Employment Information System (PEIS), regularly appearing in the national Top 10. The city consistently ranks within the Top 3 for both job vacancy postings and job referrals.
From January to November 2025, PESO Davao recorded 45,272 job vacancies and 57,073 registered applicants. Of these, 28,292 applicants were referred to companies, and 27,053 were successfully placed across various employment programs.
Pantinople extended gratitude to Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the dedicated PESO staff, and company partners for their unwavering support. She emphasized that despite being a small office, PESO manages extensive programs, including its popular weekly Friday job fairs.
Job seekers in Davao are encouraged to stay updated on opportunities by checking the PESO Dabawenyo Facebook page or by visiting PESO offices located in Buhangin, Bunawan, Agdao, Talomo, Toril, Tugbok, Calinan, Baguio, and the main office at the Almendras Compound.
