More than 1,300 job vacancies, including 275 in the maritime sector, were available at a job fair in Lapu-Lapu City as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched new initiatives under the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program on Wednesday.
Marcos announced the TUPAD flagship innovations during the 26th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark in Barangay Maribago, where he also highlighted the government’s employment programs and the need to align skills training with labor market demands.
The Trabahong-Dagat initiative integrates temporary employment with training and certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among other interventions, to support coastal and fishing communities.
The President said a maritime local and overseas job fair was being held at Island Central Mactan, also in Lapu-Lapu City, offering more than 1,300 vacancies.
Two other initiatives were introduced alongside Trabahong-Dagat. SkillPass establishes a pathway connecting work experience, skills development and certification, while Sagip-Trabaho provides temporary wage support and worker-protection assistance to distressed employees of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Marcos said the initiatives were intended to help workers improve their skills, gain experience and build more sustainable livelihoods.
He also cited the need for government agencies to align training programs with employment opportunities, saying the administration had directed the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education and TESDA to make their programs responsive to labor market needs.
“Skills mismatch continues to prevent workers from finding jobs suited to their capabilities, further resulting in unemployment and underemployment,” Marcos said.
The President reported that 111,509 students and out-of-school youth received short-term employment through the Special Program for Employment of Students during the first half of 2026. Nearly 20,000 interns also gained work experience through the Government Internship Program over the same period.
From January to August 2026, the government conducted 1,554 job fairs, where 65,534 individuals were hired on the spot, Marcos said. He added that more than 91% of qualified jobseekers under the PESO program were successfully placed.
The TUPAD program had provided emergency employment assistance to more than 14 million beneficiaries since the start of the administration, based on figures through August 2026.
Marcos also noted the implementation of wage increases in Central Visayas, with covered private-sector workers receiving an additional P42 in their daily minimum wage and domestic workers, or kasambahays, receiving a P500 increase in their monthly minimum wage.
The increases took effect on the day of the event, according to the President.
During the congress, Marcos also recognized five Public Employment Service Offices that had won the National Search for Best PESO for three consecutive years and received the PESO Hall of Fame Award.
He urged government agencies and employment stakeholders to continue expanding access to decent work, particularly for workers facing greater barriers to employment.
“Batid ko ang mga hamon sa inyo sa gitna ng pabago-bago ng ating ekonomiya—na pinapalala pa ng tensyon sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” Marcos said.
He assured jobseekers that the government would continue expanding employment opportunities while encouraging them to strengthen their skills, build experience and take advantage of opportunities to learn.
The congress brought together public employment offices, government agencies, employers and industry partners to discuss employment facilitation and initiatives intended to connect jobseekers with available work.
Comments