Region 8 PESO congress eyed as vehicle for learning, info sharing

Tacloban City (1 February) -- The 2009 Regional PESO Congress Cum Year-End Assessment and Planning is all set to open this coming Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at the Kuting Reef Beach Resort in Sitio Kuting, Barangay Asuncion, Macrohon, Southern Leyte.

It will be hosted by the DOLE Southern Leyte Field Office headed by Mrs. Fe Norma D. Valuis and the Southern Leyte Association of PESO Managers headed by Mr. Norman Ordiz, Provincial PESO Manager.

This was announced by DOLE Regional Director Forter G. Puguon shortly after conferring with the staff of the Technical Support and Supervision Division (TSSD) headed by Mrs. Flordeliz D. Geonzon and the Internal Management Services Division headed by Mrs. Cristina T. Longjas, on the preparations thereon.

The Congress is a yearly event jointly undertaken by the DOLE Regional Office and the PESOMA-EV, the region's association of PESO Managers currently headed by Mr. Noel Arante, PESO Manager of Calubian, Leyte.

It will bring together the PESO Managers all over the region to share and exchange their various achievements, expertise, strategies experiences, processes and concerns in their implementation of the PESO programs, services and projects. As of this year-end, the total number of PESO Managers in the region is 161, consisting of 149 PESO-LGUs (Provinces, Cities & Municipalities), 11 PESO-Academe (state and private colleges & universities) and 1 PESO-NGO.

The Public Employment Service Office or PESO is mandated under Republic Act No. 8759 or the PESO Act of 1999 to be established in every province, city, municipality, State and private colleges and universities, non-government organizations, and community-based organizations.

It aims to carry out the State policy to provide full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all and, for this purpose, to strengthen and expand the existing employment facilitation service machinery of the government at the local levels. The program is directly under DOLE's Bureau of Local Employment headed by Director Criselda Sy and is part of DOLE's Employment and Manpower Development Cluster headed by Undersecretary Romeo C. Lagman.

On the first day of the Congress, Mayor Fe G. Edillo of the host Municipality of Macrohon will welcome all the delegates, while Congressman Roger G. Mercado of the Lone District of Southern Leyte will give the Inspirational Message.

The two-day Regional PESO Congress will feature various presentations by DOLE Regional Office staff to be led by Regional Director Puguon himself and learning sessions by a select group of PESO Managers who attended the various PESO trainings conducted last year by DOLE in different venues in the country like the cities of Davao, Cebu and Manila.

The presentations will include the Consolidated Highlights of the PESO Accomplishments by province, the Criteria for the Best PESO Award, the DOLE Jobs Fit Program and a Roadmap towards strengthening the PESOs.

The learning sessions will echo such topics as the Labor Employment Concepts by Lawaan PESO manager Evelyn Ganas, the DOLE & LGU Role in the Philippine Employment Framework by Lope de Vega PESO Manager, the LMI in the Academe by College of Maasin PESO Manager Virgelyn Udtohan, and the Career and Employment Coaching by Barugo PESO Manager Michael de Lima and Lapinig PESO Manager Wilma Daclag. Dulag PESO Manager Bembet Lacbayo will give a graphic portrait of the PESO Manager, while former Catbalogan City PESO Manager Arturo Roque will share the process through which the City institutionalized the PESO.

The presentations will then be followed by a Planning Workshop, during which the PESO Managers will be grouped by provinces to be presided by the presidents of the Provincial PESO Managers Association and facilitated by the heads of the DOLE Provincial Field Offices assisted by the Field Office focal persons on employment facilitation services.

A final highlight of the Congress will be a video playing of the DOLE Secretary Marianito D. Roque's Policy Directions Message during the DOLE Corporate Planning Exercise held last January 22, 2010 at the Occupational Safety and Health Center, North Avenue, Quezon City.

Director Puguon said the forthcoming Regional PESO Congress promises to be a very meaningful and fruitful experience for every participating PESO Manager. (By Virgilio Doroja PIA8/DOLE8)

Other News

Hinundayan Armed Group not mine - Honasan!

PhilHealth exec visits Southern Leyte

Landslide and floods threaten Southern Leyte

PCA moves to contain spread of coconut pests

Field Nurse program to continue

DPWH sets groundbreaking for new bridge in Sogod

RGM Alliance’s Million tree planting program launched

St. Bernard bags 2009 National Search for Barangays with Best Sanitary Practice Award

Malacanang directs 4Ps in Region 8 to cover 6 provinces To benefit over 100,000 poor families

Comelect List of Local Candidates for the May 10, 2010 National Elections