Continuing its excellence in public employment service, the Province of Iloilo through PESO was adjudged best in Western Visayas for 1st Class Provincial Category during the 2016 Regional Search for Best PESO (SBP) by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on July 29, 2017.
PESO Province of Iloilo Chief Francsico Tirador Heler, Jr. attributed the win to teamwork and the support of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“Our strong partnership with the private sectors, national government agencies, non-government organizations, civic organizations, and academe proved very vital in the implementation of our programs and services. And on top of this, the support that we get from Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and the honorable members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is a strengthening motivation and enabling factor for our Office,” said Heler.
Because of the award, PESO Province of Iloilo is set to compete for its second national title for best PESO 1st Class Provincial Category on October.
PESO Province of Iloilo, a consistent regional awardee, has been in existence since 1992 but was formally created only in 2015 and has since garnered several recognitions and commendations for continued implementation of PESO programs and services, including the 2015 Regional and National Best PESO for 1st Class Provincial Category.
This year’s award covered the 2016 performance of PESO.
PESO core services included Local Market Information, Career Coaching and Employment Orientation, and Placement and Referral. It also maintains a workforce database accessible to employers, facilitates special recruitment activities, and conducts job fairs.
DOLE programs and other special projects such as Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program (GIP), JobStart Program, Migration and Development Initiative (MDI), Training for Better Access to Job Opportunities (TraBAJO), and Customized Employment Project (CEP) also handled by PESO.
SBP is an annual activity that recognizes the significant role of the country’s almost 2,000 PESOs in the implementation of the DOLE-initiated employment facilitation programs at the grassroots level. [By Jayrel Javier Encontro, Labor and Employment Officer I, PESO Province of Iloilo]