Laid-off Hanjin workers gain chances of employment anew

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Department of Labor and Employment Region III (DOLE-3), headed by Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita, in collaboration with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), through the Build Build Build Program, over the weekend held a jobs caravan.

The caravan, dubbed as “Build, Build, Build = Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Caravan in Subic,” captured some 4,500 job applicants, almost half of which, were more than 2,400 were former Hanjin workers.

This jobs caravan was held in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and National Economic Development Authority ( NEDA) .

Available job vacancies were not only limited for construction workers but likewise for skilled technicians, engineers, and administrative staff.

Campita, who thanked the 98 participating private companies which offered around 25,000 job slots, expressed her delight in the outcome of HOTS.

“A total of 186 were Hired-On-the-Spot (HOTS). The good news is, 99 of them were Hanjin workers, and we are also glad that another 52 percent of Hanjin applicants were shortlisted as nearly-hires,” Campita added.

Malino Aquino, a former welder of Hanjin Shipyard, expressed his joy after being hired on the spot by the New Masinloc Construction Corporation.

What makes this job caravan meaningful is that it was able to help quite a number of the displaced workers of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC), which is currently undergoing a financial rehabilitation process.

This undertaking is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, Build Program.”

Job vacancies are also posted at the Build, Build, Build Philippine Infrastructure Transparency Portal where it catalogues projects foreseen to upsurge the productive capacity of the economy thereby creating jobs, among others.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was in attendance together with Senator Richard Gordon, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr, SBMA Chairperson/ Administrator Wilma Eisma, and BCDA President Vince Dizon.

Other partner agencies also present to provide allied services to pre-employment requirement are Philhealth, HDMF and SSS.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Red Cross team was likewise present to provide medical and first aid assistance during the event.

— Jerry Borja/ DOLE-3 LCO