By Joel Pinaroc
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA— Thousands of parents and students participated in a nationwide career guidance and employment counseling conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
In a report (http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=2089), the DoLE said some 213,480 students in the tertiary level, technical-vocational schools, and secondary institutions, along with parents, have attended the agency’s career guidance and employment counseling sessions in 1,164 venues nationwide prior to the students’ graduation last summer.
DoLE conducted the career counseling initiative through its sub-agency, the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).
The career guidance activities were facilitated by the DoLE Regional Offices (ROs), in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (PESOs), and guidance counselors nationwide.
DoLE said the career guidance and employment counseling campaign is in line with the national government’s labor and employment goals.
DoLE Acting Secretary Danilo P. Cruz said the goal is “to make the best talents stay by reducing labor-job mismatch in the country, and through better labor market information.”
“It is reassuring to note that more students and parents realize the importance of intensive career guidance to strengthen students’ options and lead them towards wiser career planning to match available opportunities in our industries when they graduate from college,” the official also said.
Trained guidance counselors and employment coaches facilitated the sessions nationwide.
According to the DoLE, the highest number of participants in the career guidance and employment coaching activities had been recorded in Region 3 or Central Luzon (with 39,890 participants in 258 venues), Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN (34,352 in 118 venues), Region 2 or Cagayan Valley (20,546 in 125 venues), Region 5 or Bicol (14,676 in 81 venues), Region 8 or Eastern Visayas (13,004 in 110 venues), Region 4-B or MIMAROPA (12,405 in 93 venues), NCR (11,209 in 25 venues), Region 6 or Western Visayas (10,829 in 52 venues), Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula (10,511 in 42 venues), Region 4-A or CALABARZON (9,696 in 27 venues), Region 7 or Central Visayas (8,974 in 52 venues), Region 10 or Northern Mindanao (7,505 in 67 venues), Region 1 or Ilocos.
