Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) repatriated to the Philippines due to the conflict in the Middle East were among those accommodated in the job fair of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Iloilo City on Labor Day.

At least 83 employers were hiring for 7,000 job vacancies.

At least 71 of the employers are local while 11 are based overseas.

One of the former OFWs is John Earl Ramiso from Antique. He worked as a travel consultant in Bahrain before returning to the Philippines.

He said he still wants to work abroad again.

“Siguro po, as of now, kahit ano pong available na fit po sa role ko,” he said.

By midday on May 1, 2026, at least 49 applicants were hired on the spot.

One of them is Francis Kurt de Asis who got hired as a liaison officer.

It has been three years since he stopped going to school. He said he hopes to continue with his education course once he gets to save up money.

“Need ko para sa aking needs and wants. So need ko mag-work especially nag-iisa lang ako,” he said.

At least 1,900 applicants attended the job fair.

“Timing sya in response sa crisis situation natin ngayon. So maraming jobseekers natin ang naghahanap ng trabaho at ang ating employers, naghahanap rin ng applicants,” said Atty. Jorge Ferraris II, head of the Technical Support Services Division of DOLE-6.