CENTRAL LUZON — A total of 303 jobseekers were hired on-the-spot during the Kalayaan 2025 Job Fair, held region-wide in celebration of the 127th Philippine Independence Day.
Organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 3 in partnership with local government units and various public and private stakeholders, the job fair was simultaneously conducted across Central Luzon and drew 3,364 registered applicants.
This year’s on-the-spot hiring rate increased to 9%, up from 6.75% in 2024, where 246 out of 3,644 applicants secured immediate employment.
DOLE Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio underscored the fair’s significance in addressing the region’s evolving labor market needs.
“The primary aim of this event is for our employers to get the best and brightest future workers. We also encourage them to develop more programs focused on talent retention,” Panlilio said.
In Pampanga, the fair was held at SM City Telabastagan, where 33 local and two overseas employers offered a total of 6,148 job vacancies—5,743 local positions and 405 for overseas deployment.
Top job openings included positions for production operators, customer service representatives, warehouse staff, food preparers, sales clerks, skilled workers, factory workers, aircon technicians, bookkeepers, and baristas.
Among the successful hires was Brinz Soliman, who secured employment immediately after submitting his resume.
“I didn’t expect to be the first one hired-on-the-spot since I arrived late. I’m just so happy with the results,” he shared.
Another applicant, Julius Canque, who was hired as an electrician at Unimax Steel Structure and Construction Corp, expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you, DOLE Region 3, for organizing this job fair. This will help me save for my children’s needs. I hope this program continues to help others find employment,” Canque said.
To further support jobseekers, six government service booths—including the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Pag-IBIG Fund—were set up at the venue to assist with documentation and other employment requirements.
Panlilio also cited improved employment conditions in the region, based on the April 2025 Labor Force Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Central Luzon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.1% from 3.3% in April 2024, remaining below the national average of 4.1%. Underemployment also declined from 9.2% to 8.5%.
However, she noted a slight decline in the labor force, from 5.76 million in 2024 to 5.63 million in 2025, attributed to reduced participation.
To address this, DOLE Region 3 is set to strengthen its livelihood programs, labor education, and youth internship initiatives in collaboration with other agencies.
The Kalayaan 2025 Job Fair is part of DOLE’s continuous efforts to bridge jobseekers and employers, while reducing unemployment through accessible and inclusive labor market interventions.
