ILOILO City – An estimated 400 seafarers participated in the job fair organized by the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc. on Feb. 13 at the second floor of SM City Iloilo.
Aside from fresh graduates of courses Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering, experienced seafarers also joined, according to Rachel Manero, co-chairperson of the foundation’s media and publications committee.
There were also applicants who were graduates of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, she added.
Eight manning agencies confirmed their participation in the job fair days ahead but on the day of the fair only two sent representatives, lamented Manero.
Still, these two manning agencies looked for a lot of applicants they could take in, she added.
This was the second time for the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc. to hold a seafarers’ job fair. The first was conducted in 2017.
The Feb. 13 job fair started at 10 a.m. and closed at 5 p.m. It was one of several activities in line with the annual Paraw Regatta, a race of wind-propelled double outrigger sailboats called paraw on the Iloilo Strait between this city and Guimaras province.
The race is on Feb. 17.
“Western Visayas is the seafarers capital of the country,” said Manero./PN
