LGU Tacurong PESO is region’s best performer among component cities

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City was declared as the regional winner of the Best-Performing PESO Award under Component Cities Category for 2013.

LGU Tacurong PESO Manager Allan S. Freno (middle) receives the award for Best-Performing PESO Manager for Component City Category-Region XII on 22 January, Davao City. With Freno are [L-R] DOLE Asst. Director Yahya Senti, DOLE Regional Director Ofelia Domingo, Retired DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte, and DOLE-Sultan Kudarat Provincial Head Arlene Bisnon.

PESO Manager Allan Freno received the award during the Regional PESO Yearend Performance Assessment and Planning organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City on January 22-23, 2014. DOLE 12 Regional Director Ofelia Domingo conferred the award. Assistant Regional Director Yahya Senti and retired DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte were also present during the awarding rites.

The LGU PESO of Polomolok, under PESO Manager Maria Lourdes Hormigos, bagged the regional award for the 1st to 2nd Class Municipalities while Gay  Claudio of Southern Baptist College, North Cotabato won for the Best PESO School-Based Category. Each winner received a plaque and P5, 000.00 cash incentive.

Awardees for the region’s Best-Performing PESOs were evaluated and screened using the criteria set by the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) and PESO Philippines, Incorporated (PESOPhil). Nominees vying for the awards submitted their annual accomplishments on the PESO core services, namely: Referral and Placement, provision of Labor Market Information (LMI), Employment and Career Counseling, and implementation of the DOLE-Integrated Livelihood Program.

Other PESO services like conduct of Job Fairs, implementation of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), and Anti-Illegal Recruitment advocacy that fall under other services of PESO were also used as criteria.

Under the Component City Category, the criteria requires that the PESO achieves at least 75 percent placement/hired rate against applicants being registered and referred to employers. For 2013, LGU Tacurong PESO had achieved an 87.16 percent placement rate.

On Employment and Career Counseling, LGUs are required to reach at least 3,000 students and parents. LGU Tacurong PESO more than doubled the target last year after reaching out to 6,154 participants in the employment and career advocacy. The organization of the guidance counselors of schools in Tacurong was also one of the best practices of the LGU PESO in 2013.

The PESO also performed well on the offline and online skills registration of applicants using the Skills Registry System (SRS) and the PhilJobnet website of the DOLE.

Aside from Job Fairs, SPES and Anti-Illegal Recruitment advocacy, the LGU’s PESO also performed other services such as the Kasambahay orientation and registration, conduct of Local Recruitment Activities, OFW Reintegration programs, scholarship facilitation, and PESO sa Radyo among others.

The institutionalization of PESO also gained the LGU’s PESO points during the evaluation. In 2013, the Personnel Oversight Committee had approved the creation of Information, Labor & Employment Section under the Office of the City Mayor and likewise created a plantilla position for the PESO Manager.

Grateful for the award, Mr. Freno was quick to thank the support of Mayor Lina Montilla and the city council through Labor and Employment Committee Chairperson Benjamin Fajardo, Jr. who pushed for the PESO’s institutionalization. He said that DOLE-Sultan Kudarat Field Office under Arlene Bisnon also contributed hugely to the outputs of PESO. He also cited the contribution of his colleagues in the PESO and the Tri-Media for their huge help in preparing the entry for the regional awards.

“The award is special because we achieved this despite having limited personnel to carry out the tasks”, Mr. Freno said. He said that he is sharing the recognition with Ms. Myla Muyco, his sole staff who had been a big help in the implementation of the PESO programs.

As a regional winner, LGU Tacurong PESO will vie for the national awards. Eight national finalists will be chosen and the national winner will be declared during the PESO National Congress in September, which will be hosted by Region 12. (LGU Tacurong Information)