PANABO CITY — In celebration of Barangay New Visayas Day, Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), through its Job Placement Office, organized a Job and Business Fair that offered employment opportunities and livelihood training to residents and jobseekers. The event drew hundreds of participants and was held at the DNSC Gymnasium for the Job Fair, and at the Audio-Visual Room and Academic Building for the Business Fair and Livelihood Training sessions.
A total of 185 jobseekers, including fresh graduates and career shifters, participated in the Job Fair, which featured 10 local companies, 2 overseas employers, and 11 national government agencies. Twenty-eight applicants were hired on the spot, while others were shortlisted for follow-up interviews.
To complement the job fair, DNSC conducted hands-on livelihood training sessions to build participants’ entrepreneurial skills. Topics included financial literacy and business startup by Edsel D. Siasol, a techno-demo on crunchy banana balls by Delia Bermoy, herbal liniment making by Sharlene Grace Duco, and perfume making by Mary Grace Cuerpo.
Among those hired was Cyril Magalona Habi, 54, a resident of Datu Abdul, who secured a housekeeping position at Gaisano Panabo. “After 20 years as a housewife, karon pako nibalik og apply og trabaho. Nakabalo ko ani nga job fair sa among 4Ps group sa Facebook. Ang pinunta ko lang didto ay para sa livelihood training pero nag-try lang ko mag-apply. Thankful kaayo ko kay nadawat ko. Gusto ko makatabang sa akong mga anak,” she shared. (Translation: After 20 years as a housewife, this was my first time applying for a job again. I found out about the job fair through our 4Ps group on Meta. I originally came for the livelihood training but decided to try applying, and I’m so thankful I got hired. I really want to help support my children.)
A mother of three, Habi said her goal was simply to provide a daily allowance for her children, one of whom is a Grade 10 student.
Another successful applicant was Ana Jean Bantayan, 23, a fresh graduate of DNSC’s BSIS program, who was hired as a Customer Technical Assistant at SM Supermarket. “Lisod mangitag work karon labi na fresh grad ka. Wala ko nag-expect nga ma-hire ko pero grateful kaayo ko sa Job Fair. Dili parehas sa regular hiring nga gasto pa ug wala pa’y kasiguruhan,” she said. (Translation: Finding a job nowadays is not easy, especially if you’re a fresh graduate. I didn’t expect to get hired, but I’m grateful for this Job Fair. It’s different from the usual job fairs, which can be costly and filled with uncertainties.)
Various government agencies also participated, offering essential services such as employment facilitation, membership registration, and livelihood support. By uniting employers, agencies, and the local community, the fair served as a platform for employment, empowerment, and inclusive development.
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