Gov't urged to hold more virtual job fairs to ease unemployment amid pandemic

Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar on Wednesday called on the Department of Labor and Employment, the Civil Service Commission and other concerned agencies to intensify online job fairs to ease the unemployment rate in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In filing House Resolution 1597, Villar urged these agencies to help in accelerating the economy and keep families afloat during the health and economic crisis. She said virtual career platforms are in demand in this time of pandemic. 

"Various government agencies must innovate in generating job opportunities during the pandemic and health crisis," Villar said . "Virtual career platforms assist job applicants in finding unique opportunities and job vacancies." 

Villar said the country's unemployment rate soared to 10.4% last year or about 4.5 million Filipinos became jobless as thousands of establishments were forced to stop operations amid the pandemic. 

Sectors with most displacements include manufacturing, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service, as well as the arts, entertainment and recreation, the lawmaker said. 

Villar noted that with vaccination in the country expected to roll out in the coming days, a roadmap on employment, jobs and opportunities must also be set in place by the government. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News