OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)–The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 through its Provincial Field Office (PFO) in Misamis Occidental awarded and turned-over the plaque to the National Awardees for the search of Best Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for CYs 2018 and 2019, December 15 at DOLE Provincial Field Office, here.
DOLE-10 also awarded the provincial office with P150,000 cash award, book binding machine, and health kits composed of negative ion necklace, a box of 100 tablets of vitamin C, a box of 50 pieces of face masks, document sanitizer, 150 ml ethyl alcohol, and thermometer.
For two consecutive years, Misamis Occidental was successively awarded for the first time in history of the province wherein the Municipal Government of Jimenez won the National Best PESO award for the year 2018 under the 3rd to 4th class municipality category.
Likewise, the City Government of Oroquieta was awarded as the National Best PESO for 2019 under the component City category in Region 10.
The search for Best PESO recognizes the contributions of the office specifically on employment facilitation programs and to reward its outstanding impact in improving the employment and living conditions of job-seeking Filipinos, locally or overseas.
DOLE-10 PFO Chief Leonardo G. Rodrigo acknowledged the support of Oroquieta City Mayor Lemuel Meyrick M. Acosta with his Sangguniang Panlungsod members and Jimenez Municipal Mayor Rosario Balais through their presence in the event.
Jimenez PESO Manager Arnulfo Guimalan personally received the plaque of recognition, October 9, 2019 during the PESO Congress at SMX Convention Center, Bacolod, Negros Occidental.
A year after, Oroquieta PESO Manager Mark Anthony D. Artigas attained the required percentile rating for the 2019 Search for Best PESO and was declared the National Winner in the component city category, December 8, 2020.
Moreover, Rodrigo announced that Misamis Occidental was once again hailed as the Best PESO for CY 2019.
He recognized Guimalan and Artigas’s passions and commitment towards public service saying, “Your award does not only serve to measure your performance, but to reward your efforts in unselfishly helping our department in providing employment services to our clients.”
Rodrigo added that such accomplishments within the province led to the awareness of the local citizens in Misamis Occidental, thereby boosting their livelihood and job opportunities and also promoting the economic activities of the province.
Crafting the entries
Artigas highlighted his challenges in the making of his entry to the National Search through his bid book (documentation of all his employment facilitation accomplishments) as he did not expect to be recognized as a national winner with the limited manpower in his office.
However, with his commitment to reduce unemployment, he intensified his employment-facilitating role.
“I am hoping and praying that this exemplary milestone will endure for years and all would live in an equal and economically stable municipality and city. Indeed, there is so much to be thankful for and one of them is having the most supportive LGU through its local chief executive. Our teamwork is truly at the heart of our victory,” he said.
Among the programs and activities being undertaken by the PESO include Job Fairs, livelihood programs and self-employment bazaars, Special Program for Employment of Students and Out-of-School Youths, Special Recruitment Activities.
They also lead the National Skills Registry System, and other programs/activities developed by DOLE for special groups of disadvantaged workers such as persons with disabilities (PWDs) and displaced workers.
The search for the Best PESO is an annual event facilitated by DOLE. (DOLE10/PIA10)
