House panel OKs bill setting up one-stop shop Trabaho Centers

A bill seeking to upgrade and enhance the capacities of existing Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) into one-stop shop Trabaho Centers has been approved by the House committee on labor and employment.

During its regular meeting, the committee approved House Bill No. 268, or the Trabaho Center Act, principally authored by TRABAHO Party-List Rep. Johanne Bautista.

In her sponsorship speech, Bautista said that the Trabaho Centers, set to be established in all cities, municipalities, state universities and colleges, and public high schools, will improve accessibility to employment facilitation services and strengthen service delivery at the community level.

“This bill will provide a seamless and efficient connection between job seekers and employers, improve workforce alignment with industry needs, and reduce the time and cost it takes for Filipino workers to find jobs suited to their skills,” she said.

“Through this bill, we are creating a permanent infrastructure where we do not simply hand our graduates a diploma and wish them luck, but walk them through the door of their first job, ensuring that every Filipino who wants to work has the tools, guidance, and clear pathway to find it,” she added.

During the hearing, labor sector stakeholders, which include implementing agencies, civil society organizations, and labor groups, expressed strong support for the measure. 

The Department of Labor and Employment said the Trabaho Centers would be “very helpful in advancing employment facilitation at the grassroots level.”

“We believe this will address the persistent job mismatch we are facing and help our youth transition smoothly into the world of work,” said DOLE Senior Labor and Employment Officer Chester Rey Mulato. 

The Trabaho Center Act was likewise welcomed by barangay officials, adding that Trabaho Centers will ensure that no Filipino is left behind.

Liga ng mga Barangay-Palawan president Ferdinand Zaballa said: “The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas kasama ng more than 42,000 punong barangays, strongly supports House Bill Nos. 268 and 7366 because these measures bring employment services closer to our people. These bills matter because they make employment assistance not only available on paper, but visible and truly felt in every community.”

“When jobs reach the barangays, hope reaches the family,” he added.

The Trabaho Center Act also proposes the establishment of the Trabaho Information System, an enhanced digital platform designed to ensure data-driven and industry-responsive job and skills matching, as well as the Trabaho Center Council, which shall be composed of relevant government agencies tasked with delivering holistic support toward full employment for Filipinos. —AOL, GMA Integrated News