ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Iloilo City turned its 89th Charter Day celebration into a major public-service push, bringing employment opportunities and free healthcare closer to residents instead of focusing solely on ceremonies and festivities.
The city’s August 25 celebration generated more than 15,000 job opportunities, while hundreds of senior citizens and persons with disabilities benefited from ongoing medical and dental missions held across several districts.
The employment drive, organized by the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), drew thousands of applicants looking for both local and overseas work.
According to PESO Manager Gabriel “Gab” Umadhay, the job fair recorded a 10.87 percent placement rate, translating to approximately 222 applicants hired on the spot.
Another 2,135 applicants were referred for further interviews, giving them additional opportunities to secure employment after company screening and final interviews.
More Than 15,000 Job Opportunities
The Charter Day job fair was held at Robinsons Place Iloilo-Main under the city’s “Trabaho Agad Program.”
Panay News reported that around 120 local and overseas recruitment agencies participated, while more than 3,700 applicants had pre-registered for the event.
The employment initiative also addressed another major challenge faced by job seekers: completing documentary requirements.
A government one-stop shop brought together agencies including the Department of Labor and Employment, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority, National Bureau of Investigation and Social Security System, allowing applicants to process various employment-related documents and requirements at the venue.
PESO said the event attracted applicants not only from Iloilo City but also from surrounding areas. About 60 percent of the applicants came from outside the city, according to Umadhay.
The figures underscore the scale of demand for employment opportunities in Iloilo and neighboring communities.
Free Healthcare Reaches Vulnerable Residents
Employment was only one side of the city’s Charter Day service drive.
The Iloilo City Government also brought free healthcare services closer to senior citizens and persons with disabilities through the Atipan medical and dental missions.
The district-based missions offered services including medical consultations, chest X-rays, random blood sugar testing and dental consultations, helping residents access basic preventive and diagnostic care without having to shoulder the full cost themselves.
The program was initially expected to serve more than 500 beneficiaries across five districts from August 24 to 28.
The schedule included:
- August 24: Compania Central Gym, Molo
- August 25: M.H. Del Pilar Gym, Jaro
- August 26: La Paz District Gym
- August 27: Libertad-Lapuz Gym
- August 28: PHHC Block 22 Gym, Mandurriao
By August 27, however, the Philippine News Agency reported that nearly 600 residents had already availed themselves of the medical and dental mission, with services continuing through Friday.
The district-by-district approach allows the city to bring services directly into communities, particularly for residents who may find it difficult to travel to government offices or health facilities.
Charter Day Becomes More Than a Celebration
The initiatives form part of a broader month-long 89th Charter Day program designed to combine public service with culture, livelihood, sports and community activities.
The Philippine Information Agency reported that this year’s celebration carries the theme “Celebrating 89 Years of Progress Toward a Better Iloilo City for All.”
Aside from the job fair and healthcare missions, the celebration included civil registration services, livelihood and entrepreneurship activities, cultural programs, sports competitions and other community-based initiatives.
The city also launched healthcare initiatives beyond the Charter Day missions. The MediSen+ Program, for example, has a ₱20-million allocation for free maintenance medicines for qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities diagnosed with conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. The program is expected to benefit around 40,000 senior citizens and 6,766 registered PWDs in the city.
The combined programs reflect the city government’s effort to use its anniversary not simply as a commemoration of Iloilo’s cityhood, but as an opportunity to deliver tangible services to residents.
For thousands of job seekers, the celebration meant a chance to get hired. For senior citizens and PWDs, it meant access to consultations, diagnostics and dental services.
And with thousands still undergoing interviews and referrals after the job fair, the impact of Iloilo City’s 89th Charter Day may continue well beyond August 25.
Leave a Reply