DMDP graduating students undergo pre-employment seminar

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 96 graduating students of the Cebu City Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) have undergone an “employment readiness seminar” to better prepare them for employment.

The attendees were students of the technical and vocational courses offered by DMDP such as security, housekeeping, electrical installation, automotive, computer system, and refrigeration.

As reported by the city’s Public Information Office (PIO), Mauricio Cabatino, training division head of DMDP, said that the purpose of the seminar was to give the students an idea on what to expect when they start working.

The employment readiness seminar was held on Thursday, August 25, before the graduation of the students of the Technical, Vocational Education Training.

“In time ma-employ na sila after graduation. Ang technical mo-graduate next week. Maong preparatory ni siya ang employment readiness seminar, three weeks from now mo-graduate pud ang four months,” said Cabatino.

The DMDP invited the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Authority, Social Security System, Department of Trade and Industry, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth for the seminar.

Also present was Councilor Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella II, who assured that he will look for ways for the students to immediately land a job.

Labella is the chairman of the City Council’s committee on labor, employment, cooperative, and livelihood.

“Ako man gud usa ko ka trainor sa una. Kahibawo gyud ko sa kalisud sa experience nga nag-training. Inig human og training way padulngan,” he said.

Labella disclosed that he has already negotiated with the DMDP and other offices of the national government, such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for such purpose.

Among the 96 students is Rutchelle Maturan, a resident of Barangay Apas, who took the housekeeping course.

Maturan said that she worked as a merchandiser before, but after that, she did not look for another job because she was taking care of her sick husband and their three children.

Now that she is about to graduate, she will immediately look for a job, and plans to apply in a hotel and eventually work overseas one day.

“Naningkamot ko pag-eskuyla diri para maka-trabaho ko’g hotel or maka-abroad,” said Maturan. — GMR (FREEMAN)