11,000 jobs up for grabs at Independence Day jobs fairs

FOR the first time, Lapu-Lapu City will host today the country’s 121st Independence Day celebration, which is expected to draw some 10,000 participants.

The activity at the Mactan Liberty Shrine will start with the raising of the flag at 8 a.m.

Lapu-Lapu City will also host one of the three local and overseas jobs fairs that will be held in the region as part of the celebration.

A total of 11,672 vacancies await jobseekers in Lapu-Lapu and in Bohol and Negros Oriental provinces, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 Director Salome Siaton said in a statement.

Ian Christopher Alfonso, senior history researcher of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), said Lapu-Lapu City was chosen as the venue of this year’s celebration as part of the preparations for the 500th year celebration of the Battle of Mactan and the Christianization of the Philippines.

“It’s part of our efforts to raise awareness among Filipinos that there’s something we should look out for in two years’ time,” he said.

In a separate interview, LapuLapu City’s tourism officer, Hembler Mendoza, said they expect 10,000 teachers, students, City Hall workers, government employees, Lapu-Lapu residents and tourists to join the activity.

On Tuesday, June 11, officials of the NHCP led the rehearsals for the Independence Day activities.

It will be a short but meaningful celebration, NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante said in an earlier interview.

Meanwhile, the jobs fair in LapuLapu City will be held at the Hoops Dome on Humay-Humay Road.

Siaton said positions needed for local employment include customer service representatives, production workers, sales and marketing assistants, technical sales associates and electronic assemblers.

Vacancies posted for overseas employment are those for factory workers, cleaners, nurses, laborers and restaurant staff. /