The Department of Labor and Employment XI, through its Davao del Norte Field Office (DOLE-DNFO), continues to step up the implementation of the JobStart Philippines Program in Davao del Norte to make several youths in the province more hopeful and optimistic as the country’s economy is poised to bounce back under the new normal.

On August 9, 2022, the DOLE-DNFO and the Public Education and Employment Service Office (PEESO) of Tagum City facilitated a five-day registration period for qualified youth to avail of the program. A total of 224 youths from the cities of Tagum and Panabo were selected to take part in the 10-day Life Skills Training.

The JobStart trainees will receive allowance for the whole duration of the training. Following this, they will be employed as interns in establishments for a maximum of three (3) months with stipend not less than 75% of the existing minimum wage in Davao Region.

In addition, the DOLE-DNFO released the first tranche grant amounting to Php 1,569,620.00 for the implementation of the program to its five (5) partner employers in Panabo City, Davao del Norte namely First Panabo Tropical Foods Corporation, Gaisano Grand Mall of Panabo, Macondray Plastic Products, Inc., Mcdonald’s Panabo, and Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. that would benefit 72 JobStart trainees all in all. The first tranche covered the entire training cost, training allowance, medical and security permits clearance, and load allowance. The check was awarded by DOLE-DNFO Provincial Head Angelina A. Talingting and PESO Panabo Manager Cherelle B. Espinosa on August 12, 2022.

“We are preparing our JobStart trainees to gain and sharpen their technical skills so that they get higher chance of landing better jobs in the near future. Also, this program is one way of introducing them to workplace expectations as they become more independent,” DOLE Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy said in a statement. He also thanked the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Davao Region for the exceptional partnership in providing full cycle employment facilitation services especially to the youth.###MFKM/DNFO