ILOILO City – Villages in Iloilo province were encouraged to appoint a coordinator who can work with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the provincial government in spreading information on job opportunities.
A Barangay PESO coordinator shall assist residents in looking for jobs in reference to vacancies announced by the PESO, said the officer chief Francisco Heler Jr.
They shall also guide local job seekers into what work opportunities fit their skills, Heler said.
Through the PESO coordinator, villagers can verify the legitimacy of job vacancies and avoid falling victim to bogus employers, he added.
Of the 1,721 barangays in the province, only 965 have so far appointed a Barangay PESO coordinator, said the office head.
According to Heler, this coordinator can be anyone who can perform the obligations – a barangay captain, a barangay kagawad (councilperson) or just another villager.
An assigned Barangay PESO coordinator will be subject to orientation and seminar under the office with regard to their responsibilities before they can fully assume the position, said Heler.
Heler clarified that the position requires a volunteer and thus does not come with a salary. He said they are still trying to find means on how to compensate these coordinators.
In addition, Heler encourages municipal and component city governments to set up their respective PESOs.
Only 15 local governments in the province have so far institutionalized their own PESOs.
Some local governments have offices facilitating inquiries on job vacancies but these are not institutionalized PESOs as the latter would require funding and manpower, which such local governments cannot provide, said Heler./PN
