THE HCDC PESO

The establishment of Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in every province, key city and other strategic areas in the country is mandated by Republic Act No. 8759. Its purpose is to strengthen and extend the existing employment facilitation service of the government to the local levels.

Specifically, the PESO is aimed to implement the following objectives:

1. to provide a venue where people could explore simultaneously various employment options and actually seek assistance they prefer;
2. to serve as referral and information center for the various services and programs of DOLE and other government agencies present in the area;
3. to provide clients with adequate information on employment and labor market situation in the area; and
4. to network with other PESOs within the region on employment for job exchange purposes.

Since the PESO is community-based, the responsibility for its maintenance is given to the local government units (LGUs) and a number of non-government organizations (NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs). The PESOs are linked to the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for coordination and technical supervision, and to the DOLE central office, to constitute the national employment service network.

The Holy Cross of Davao College entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Labor and Employment - Region XI. This was signed by Dr. Ma. Iris A. Melliza, the HCDC President and Mr. Romeo N. Cagas, the DOLE Assistant Regional Director at the HCDC gymnasium on September 12, 2003. By virtue of this MOA, HCDC has become a DOLE-PESO substation. For its operation, the HCDC-PESO coordinates directly with the Employment Promotions Division of DOLE- XI which is headed by Mrs. Ofelia Domingo.

As a PESO substation, HCDC cooperates with DOLE by facilitating the employment of alumni and students of HCDC as well as those of other schools; establishing close linkages with private companies, schools, government agencies, and non-government organizations in the attainment of the PESO objectives; assisting in the promotion of self-employment projects; and supporting the anti-illegal recruitment campaign.

For a year now, HCDC-PESO has been offering the following services:

1. Labor Market Information (LMI). This refers to the information concerning the size, composition, functions, problems or opportunities of the labor market.
2. Job Registration - The job applicants are registered for purposes of job referral and accessibility to DOLE-PESO services.
3. Job Solicitation. The job vacancies of the different companies (local and multi-national) are posted in the HCDC-PESO bulletin board. This is updated on a weekly basis.
4. Job Referral. The job applicants are referred to the companies they wish to apply with based on their qualifications.
5. Career Counseling. The job applicants are assisted in making appropriate career/job decisions.
6. Career Guidance. The students are provided with information regarding the nature of the different occupations and current job market demands. Likewise, they are helped in discovering their aptitudes and interests through psychological tests. With this information they are assisted towards appropriate career decision.
7. Job Fair. This involves bringing companies (through their representatives) with job openings together to provide job applicants better access to job opportunities.
8. Livelihood / Self-Employment Bazaar. This involves provision of livelihood trainings for self-employment purposes.
9. Special Program For Employment Of Students (SPES). This involves employment facilitation of poor but deserving students to enable them to pursue education.
10. Personal Effectiveness Training (PET). The students are exposed to structured learning experiences that are geared towards better self-awareness and self-understanding, acquisition of practical decision-making and problem-solving skills, as well as social, moral and emotional development.
11. Integrated Placement Assistance Program (IPAP). The new college graduates are provided with workshops and on-the-job training to enhance their interpersonal and communication skills, computer literacy and the like so as to better prepare them for actual employment.
12. Pre-Employment Seminar For Local Applicants (PESLA). The college graduating students are given seminar on how to prepare application letter and resume, how to conduct oneself in interview, good grooming, appropriate behavior in the workplace, etc.