DOLE, PESO conduct career and anti-illegal recruitment advocacy to parents

Eight hundred forty-four parents of students in Tacurong National High School attended the two-day parental education organized by the school’s Guidance Office on July 18-19, 2013.

Lecturers from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) talked on career advocacy and anti-illegal recruitment campaign. Another speaker from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) gave inputs on responsible parenthood.

DOLE Sultan Kudarat Provincial Head Arlene Bisnon presented DOLE’s Project Jobs Fit, a thoroughly-researched study that determines the Key Employment Generators (KEGs) in the Philippine labor market from 2010-2020. Project Jobs Fit aims to guide high school students and their parents in career planning by giving them the list of the in-demand and hard-to-fill occupations in the next seven years.

A simplified presentation on how to detect an illegal recruiter was given by Allan Freno, the city government’s PESO Manager. Social Welfare Officer Nancy Bawe also re-oriented the parents on how to be truly responsible especially in dealing with their teenage children.

Christy Hampac, the school guidance counselor, admitted that the parental education was the first ever to be conducted in their school; and despite the fact that attendance of parents to the said activity was not required, she was happy that many of them arrived.

The school has the largest population of students in the city of Tacurong and nearly 50 percent of the students’ parents attended the activity.

Mrs. Sarcajoga, one of the parents who had been attentive all throughout the lectures, said that she did not regret sacrificing her working hours just to attend the parental education. The presentation on the DOLE Project Jobs Fit made her realize that even parents must be aware of the movements in the labor market so that they can truly guide their children in choosing a career.

“I have a son who is already in college and until now, he is not sure if his chosen course has high employability when he finishes school. At least now, I can guide my other son in planning his career,” Mrs. Sarcajoga said.

The DOLE and PESO are currently strengthening their alliance with all guidance counselors in the city in order to provide a more effective way of conducting career advocacy not only to students but their parents as well.  (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)