The Department of Labor and Employment is reactivating Job Placement Offices across Central Luzon to address the school-to-work transition challenges facing students and graduates in Pampanga and beyond.
A Collaborative Effort to Bridge Education and Employment
The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. III recently held an orientation on the establishment and reactivation of Job Placement Offices (JPOs) at Widus Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga . The event gathered around 160 representatives from higher education institutions, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), national government agencies, and other stakeholders to improve employment services for students and graduates across Central Luzon . This initiative directly supports higher education institutions in addressing school-to-work transition challenges, including job mismatch, limited labor market information, and inadequate campus-based employment facilitation services . DOLE Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza Cruz called for stronger collaboration among agencies to address operational gaps and improve job placement outcomes.
Enhancing Graduate Employability Through Campus-Based Support
DOLE Technical Support and Services Division for Employment and Welfare Chief Aurita L. Laxamana emphasized that JPOs represent an investment in the future success of students and graduates, connecting education with job opportunities and enhancing graduates' employability . The orientation featured resource speakers who discussed the legal basis and operationalization of JPOs, DOLE programs and services, and the 2026–2027 jobs and labor market forecast . Representatives from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also presented their respective programs to support employment facilitation efforts in the region . This initiative aligns with other regional efforts like sectoral job fairs held at SM City Pampanga and the DOLE's ongoing JobStart Philippines program.
