The ZAMBOECOZONE October Job Fair was held in the ZFA Conference Room, at the 1st Industrial Park, San Ramon, last Monday, October 19, 2015.

A considerable 306 hopefuls registered for the fair while countless others mulled around the venue during the whole day event.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the Authority partnered with KCC Mall de Zamboanga, which is soon to open, to conduct a Job Fair in the ZAMBOECOZONE and Freeport, to offer quality employment to our fellow Zamboangue?os, particularly those in the West coast. The fair started around 9:00 AM after a short induction program hosted by the Department of Labor and Employment Zamboanga City Field Office (DOLE-ZCFO) and the ZAMBOECOZONE Public Employment Service Office (ZFA-PESO).

Labor Representative and ZAMBOECOZONE Director Jose J. Suan was the guest speaker in the short program. Engr. Wesley Tan, Senior Employment Officer, DOLE-ZCFO and Ms. Joy Bilag, Vice President, People Group, KCC Mall de Zamboanga were also at hand.

KCC Mall de Zamboanga and Jollibee, KCC Mall Branch, were the two primary job seeking companies present during the Job fair, which lasted until 4 in the afternoon.

A number of significant employment opportunities were offered, to include the following: Account Processor, Accountants, Auditors, AUTOCAD Operators, Baggers, Cashiers, Counter Coordinators, Drivers, Electronics & Communications Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Food Crew, Forklift Operators, Graphics Artists, Human Resource Staff, Industrial Management Engineers, Management Information Systems Staff, Management Trainees for Non-Restaurants, Management Trainees for Restaurants, Marketing Staff, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Merchandisers and Promodisers, Sanitary and Plumbing Engineers, Skilled Workers, Visual Artists, Warehouse-In-charge and Warehousemen.

Mr. Joselito J. Nuevo, ZAMBOECOZONE Senior Labor and Employment Officer, said that, "158 applicants were hired on the spot, that translates to a more than 50% hiring rate, which is the highest registered hiring rate for a good number of years in Zamboanga City". Mr. Nuevo further said that, "only about 20% of the applicants did not qualify for any of the tendered jobs, while the rest are still being evaluated and considered for possible employment at KCC Mall de Zamboanga and the Jollibee branch therein".

Eng. Tan was quoted to saying, "It is noteworthy to mention that the ZFA-PESO was approved by the ZAMBOECOZONE Board of Directors and was established last August, 2015. Barely only two months since its inception, ZFA-PESO is already giving valuable employment services to the West coast populace". "It is the only PESO located in the West coast so far".

Ms. Hermisa Aronales, Assistant Manager, People Group, KCC Mall de Zamboanga and Mr. Bonjing Langki and Ms. Rufida Basos of DOLE-ZCFO, as well as Mr. Alan Tutanes, ZAMBOECOZONE Labor and Employment Officer and Mr. Darwin Gacrama of ZFA-PESO aided in the conduct of the very successful fair.

Albi A. Marquez