NOT all Filipinos feel the efforts of our government— particularly amid the growing number of impoverished individuals in the Philippines persist.
A primary contributor to poverty is the shortage of job opportunities.
To commemorate Labor Day, local governments in Metro Manila held various mega job fairs for Filipinos.
Aside from the young job seekers in Quezon City, there were also adults and senior citizens who lined up early, hoping to get hired.
If they remain unemployed, they are bound to go hungry as they grapple with the hardships of life, aggravated by the increasing prices of goods, electricity, water, transportation, and housing rent.
“It’s really tough now unlike during Pres. Rodrigo’s time, we were a bit better off. Now, it’s doubly hard, so you really need to work twice as hard nowadays,” according to Richard Villanueva, Job Seeker.
“I hope the system will be fixed, change the way the country is run. The people are pitiful. We’re in trouble, it’s difficult,” he added.
“We really need to focus on our jobs because that’s the basic need of every family, especially if you’re the head of the family. Because if the head of the family doesn’t have a job, the whole family will suffer, including the children. We wouldn’t be able to provide basic education and basic needs like food,” Mario Makiling, Job Seeker said.
Most senior citizens we interviewed previously worked in other countries as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
It’s sad to think about it, but salaries and wages in the Philippines lag behind those of other nations- that’s why many Filipinos are taking their chances abroad.
“I decided to work overseas because the income is higher and I can support my kids with their education. Here in the Philippines, during that time, it was enough, but I needed additional income,” Reynaldo Dizon, Job Seeker said.
Around 100 companies are looking for applicants for various kinds of jobs.
In Quezon City alone, up to 9,000 applicants may find employment.
Meanwhile, the QC LGU and the Department of Labor and Employment are encouraging companies to open their doors to senior citizens who are still fit for work.
“We have a program for vulnerable sectors like senior citizens, solo parents, and PWDs to be given opportunities to work in various establishments,” Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City stressed.
“We really encourage, recommend or remind employers that as long as they are fit to work, let’s hire them because they can contribute to the economy,” according to Atty. Jude Thomas Trayvilla, Asst. Regional Director, DOLE-NCR.
In Marikina City, these two senior citizens were hired on the spot.
Congresswoman Maan Teodoro personally hired them to be employees of the Office for the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA).
For Rustan and Edelmar, being hired right away at the job fair is significant because they are still capable of working, and their pension is not enough.
“I can still do it because I’m still athletic, I jog, I participate in events like biking,” Rustan, Job Seeker said.
“We’re helping, we were able to accumulate knowledge back then, and we want to share what we know with other people. We’re more experienced now because we spent a long time in government and the private sector,” Edelmar Santiango, Job Seeker said.
Aside from them, Kent a single father, was also hired on the spot as a service crew. According to him, he had been unemployed since 2018.
“I’m happy that I got a job because I have to cover my needs. That’s why I’m looking for work because my budget is not enough,” Kent Peralta, Job Seeker said.
The activity in Marikina City is part of Congresswoman Maan Teodoro’s initiatives, aiming for Marikina residents to have job opportunities rather than solely relying on assistance.
“We don’t want temporary solutions like assistance, because it will not last long. Once your assistance runs out, where will you go? So, we need to provide our people with long-term solutions, especially now that prices are high. What people really need are jobs, and this will provide hope for families,” according to Rep. Maan Teodoro, 1st District, Marikina City.
