Closer cooperation urged between HUDCC, PESO

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday that a closer cooperation between the Public Employment Services Offices (PESO) and the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) is needed to create employment in communities where housing projects are located.

Binay, chairman of the HUDCC, said that PESO can check the list of job opportunities in the housing sector while HUDCC can explore the possibility of coursing the demand for labor for housing projects through the local PESO.

“I am optimistic about the positive outcome of collaboration between the PESOs and HUDCC in providing jobs for construction workers and related professions,” Binay said.

Binay said that 881,504 jobs were generated from the construction of 108,853 housing units from July 2010 to June 2011.

He said this figure includes housing units constructed through private funds that were provided guarantees by the Home Guaranty Corp.

“When I do the Pabahay Caravans where we inform the public of the avenues available to them in housing, I could also convince the local government officials to establish and strengthen their PESOs. This way we could hit two birds with one stone,” Binay said.

Binay also suggested that PESOs should actively enlist the assistance of the local government units especially the barangays for their programs.

He also acknowledged the assistance provided by different local public employment service offices in the government’s campaign against illegal recruitment.

“It is therefore imperative that we move towards strengthening the PESOs, not only to help our countrymen find employment, but as a vital agency at the forefront of the fight against illegal recruitment,” Binay said.