LGU, DOLE ally with guidance counselors to address job-skill mismatch in Tacurong

Guidance counselors in Tacurong City organized themselves to help the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City deal with the persistent problem of jobs and skills mismatch in the labor market.

In a meeting hosted by the LGU through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on July 22, 2013, guidance counselors of public and private schools elected their set of officers who will be at the helm of their planned activities. Guidance Counselor Mila Pernato of Notre Dame Siena was elected as president of the newly-named Tacurong City Network of Career Guidance Advocates (TCNCGA).

In the said meeting, DOLE Sultan Kudarat Field Office Provincial Head Arlene Bisnon explained the need for a convergence among stakeholders especially in the conduct of career advocacy to students of both public and private secondary schools.

Bisnon said that to attain the goal of effective career advocacy, the DOLE, LGU-PESO, guidance counselors and other concerned groups must align their plans and programs.

Mrs. Christy Hampac, Guidance Coordinator of Tacurong National High School and TCNCGA vice president, said that the said meeting was just in time because all schools are currently in the thick of their preparations for the upcoming observance of Career Guidance Week slated on August 5-9, 2013.

She said that a memorandum was sent to all schools instructing them to conduct various activities during the week which includes career talks among others.

Bisnon agreed that the career guidance week would be a great venue to promote DOLE’s Project Jobs Fit, a product of a thorough research that would help high school students discover their strengths and guide them in making informed decisions on career choice.

Project Jobs Fit identifies the key employment generators in the Philippines in the next seven years including the in-demand and hard-to-fill occupations in the labor market.

Meanwhile, the newly-organized group of guidance counselors also decided to conduct a city-wide culminating activity on August 8. Schools will send delegations to participate in a parade and closing program of the career guidance week.

Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education Chairman Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz and Councilor Welson Ferrer who were present during the meeting said that they will help the LGU-PESO in hosting of the culminating activity.

Mayor Lina Montilla, who joined the guidance counselors after their meeting, also pledged her support to all the programs on career advocacy. (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)