The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —The 13 th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag has approved an ordinance granting holiday-with-pay benefits to job order (JO) and contract of service (CoS) workers of the city government, citing the constitutional right to health, the Mental Health Act, and related civil service issuances. The proposed measure, titled “Holiday with Pay Benefit of the JO and CoS Workers of Laoag City,” seeks to extend to JO and CoS personnel a benefit similar to the wellness leave granted by the Civil Service Commission to government workers under Resolution No. 2501292 and Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2026. The ordinance also cites Republic Act No. 4622, which provides for the payment of regular daily wages to government laborers and employees during special public holidays. Under the ordinance, all Laoag City Job Order and Contract of Service workers, regardless of length of service, are entitled to holiday leave with pay during regular, special and local holidays, except those as...

All ideas in this column come from Dr. Clarita Carlos. I am merely echoing them because I fully agree with her. After I wrote about the job mismatch problem, my former professor at UP—Dr. Clarita R. Carlos—sent me what I can only describe as a clinical, no-nonsense diagnosis of our education crisis. As always, she went straight to the point: skills mismatch is only a symptom. The disease lies much deeper. And because I believe her analysis deserves wider public attention, I am putting her commentary front and center here. This column is merely my humble attempt to amplify her voice.     A system gone awry Professor Carlos begins with a stinging indictment: The mismatch problem is the result of an entire educational system gone awry—from preschool to postgraduate and onward. In her words, we have allowed an entire lifetime of learning to rest on a shaky foundation. Our reforms have been piecemeal — “a patchwork of this and that” — with no real philosophy of le...

JOBSEEKERS. Applicants line up for job interviews at the SM City Laoag on Friday (June 12, 2026). At least 41 fresh graduate applicants were hired on the spot. (Lei Adriano) LAOAG CITY—Fresh graduates from public and private schools in this city and neighboring provinces were hired on the spot on June 12, 2026 during the 128 th Independence Day “Trabaho Agad" job fair at SM City here. With 25 local and two overseas employers participating, the job fair spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) attracted hundreds of applicants for 1,929 openings, most of whom are fresh graduates of tertiary education. Of nearly 500 job seekers, 41 were hired on the spot. Among the successful applicants was 22-year-old Princess Margareth Alipio, a fresh graduate of Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Divine Word College here. She landed a service crew position at a fast-food chain. “I am so happy and grateful because I am a first-time jobseeker and I was ...

PSA-Ilocos Norte registration personnel scans the biometrics of a registrant during the INFresh Job Fair held at a mall in San Nicolas locos Norte on May 25, 2026. San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—In line with the government’s thrust of “Bringing Public Services Faster and Closer to People,” the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Ilocos Norte participated in the “INFresh Job Fair” held at Robinsons Mall, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte on May 25, 2026. During the event, the PSA Ilocos Norte National ID Team provided: national ID registration; issuance of paper-based national IDs; and assistance in accessing the digital national ID These services helped job seekers and graduating students secure valid proof of identity for employment and other transactions. The national ID, established under Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act, is the government’s official identification system that simplifies transactions and improves access to public and private services....

Laoag City —After marking her first 100 days in office, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos renewed her commitment to uplift Ilokano families through stronger initiatives on employment and enterprise, underscoring that true progress is achieved when people are empowered to build better lives for themselves and their communities. Under her leadership, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte continues to strengthen programs that generate employment and support local businesses. Through initiatives such as “Mercato ni Nanay Ces” and “producer-to-consumer” trade fairs, local entrepreneurs , farmers, and artisans gain valuable opportunities to market their products, promote Ilokano craftsmanship , and grow their enterprises. According to a report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority , Ilocos Norte recorded an employment rate of 98.7% as of December 2024, reflecting the province’s robust performance in implementing programs that promote sustainable and inclusiv...

Infographic courtesy of DOLE Ilocos Norte LAOAG CITY—The Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and several private companies here have teamed up to boost the special employment of students and out-of-school youth (OSY) in the province. Janelyn Martin, DOLE Ilocos Norte head, said that around 550 jobs are open for students and OSY with the possibility to be hired as part-time or permanent employees. The Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during summer and/or Christmas vacation or any time of the year to augment the family’s income and help ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education. To further maximize the contribution of SPES to the success of young Filipinos and to the country’s job generation and facilitation efforts, the Marcos administration has strengthened the program and increased its budget allo...

Laoag City —SM Supermalls, in partnership with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN)-Public Employment Services Office, the Dept. of Labor and Employment, and Jobstreet by Seek conducted a job fair titled, “Trabaho para sa Super Pinoys” at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City, on June 25. In preparation of the upcoming opening of the new SM Laoag City, the said job fair offered over 600 employment opportunities. It served as a platform for the participants to engage with industry professionals, and to explore a wide range of positions, from entry-level roles to professional careers, offering options for those looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the ribbon cutting at the event, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the benefits of this new partnership, “We have to make sure na ma -maximize po natin ang mga benefits sa ating kakailian . We should think of our people first, secondly, our environment,...

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has intensified the hiring of additional medical practitioners to augment the province’s health workforce.   Fe P. Siazon, provincial human resource management officer, disclosed that the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) will be opening four vacancies for Nurse II, another four for Nurse I, and several casual and job order positions for the provincial hospital. “For our district hospitals, we are waiting for the final list of job vacancies. Maybe next week, we can publish and eventually fill the positions,” Ms. Siazon added. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc continues to reinforce his commitment to revitalizing the province’s health sector, saying: “Our hospitals are filling up long-vacant and urgent staff positions, repairing old and damaged wards, as well as increasing expenditure in medicines and laboratory testing.” The primary thrust of this year’s bud...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—With the influx of foreign tourists visiting Ilocos Norte, travel operators said they are in need of more tour guides to assist guests and make their stay memorable in the province. According to Angel Lao, former president of the Ilocos Norte Travel and Tours Association and a travel agency owner, she said Ilocos residents who are still looking for employment or those who wish to have an alternative source of income may consider attending a short term course on tour guiding seminar to join the exciting world of growing tourism industry in the region. As a ground handler of shore excursions in this northern part of Luzon, Lao said tour guiding is an exciting job with a good pay. “We are looking for more tour guides as we expect more tourists to visit our province this year,” she said as she observed a shortage of tour guides whenever there are cruise ships that simultaneously dock at the Currimao seaport in this provin...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —City councilor Handy T. Lao is urging the local government and private businesses here to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). In an approved Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution which he sponsored, Mr. Lao said he based the measure in pursuant to Republic Act A No. 9994, Section 5 (a) which states, “Senior Citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or, be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching services to enable to be productive members of society”. He also noted Section 5 of RA No. 7277 which also provides, “No disable person shall be denied access opportunities for suitable employment”. Mr. Lao further stressed that the city government should also adopt the national government’s recognition of the role of senior citizens and PWDs in developing a strong Filipino nation and their integral part in the society. The city promotes and gives full support to the improve...

By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor CITY of BATAC —More than 1,000 employees of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) are expected to enjoy a festive Christmas holiday with granting of the PHP25,000 collective negotiation agreement (CNA) incentive, or Yuletide bonus this year. Dr. Oscar M. Agpaoa, director of the university’s Financial Management Office disclosed that the university had reserved a budget of more than PHP21 million for the payment of the employees’ CNA incentive. "MMSU personnel who were entitled to the CNA incentive are those regular, casual, and contractual employees," Dr. Agpaoa said. Personnel appointed between July and September 2019 were entitled to a pro-rated CNA, while those who have retired from the service before September 30, 2019 shall also be authorized a pro-rated share. The CNA incentive is given based on the savings of the university from expenses in electricity, travel, communication outlays, repairs and maintenance...

Laoag City —As fulfillment of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc’s campaign promise “to improve, to equip, and to better staff” district hospitals and health units in the province, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) reopens the application for the first batch of “Saguip Nars” Program starting on December 2, until December 13, 2019. “Saguip Nars” was introduced early in 2014 with the objective of providing work experience to new Ilokano registered nurses who lack professional clinical experience. However, the program was put on hiatus in 2018 due to budgetary constraints. “To address the scarcity of nurses and healthcare providers as well as to encourage our nurses to work for our province, Governor Marcos Manotoc sees the need to bring back the ‘Saguip Nars’ since one of his top priority programs is the improvement of our health sector,” information officer II Rhona Ysabel Daoang exp...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter BATAC CITY—Hundreds of local and overseas job opportunities were up for grabs in Batac City job fair held November 12, 2019 at the Imelda Cultural Center. Leonavella Dadiz-Duldulao, of the Department of Labor and Employment said the faire was open to all interested individuals who are seeking their dream job. “We encouraged all job seekers to apply and have the chance to get hired on the spot,” said Ms. Dadiz. Dubbed as, “Pabilgen ni Bataqueño Para iti Sapasap a Progreso (Empowering Bataqueño for Inclusive Growth)”, the whole-day job fair was a public and private partnership program hosted by the city government of Batac led by Mayor Albert Chua. Aside from the DOLE, other national government agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Social Security System, PhilHealth, Civil Service Commission, Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education Services and Skills Development Authority will be...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Hundreds of students lined up for work at the ground floor of the Provincial Capitol on November 20, 2019 as application for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in December began. For Sharina Mae Verdadero, a student of Bachelor of Science in English Language in the City of Batac, she said the program is worth trying not just to earn for money but also to gain more experience. Open to all students aged 15 to 25 years old, Ana Marie Leaño, public services officer 1 said, “there are 200 slots ready to be filled up this December holiday.” Applicants should submit a duly-accomplished application form issued by PESO, a photocopy of NSO birth certificate, and one passport size picture. Deadline of submission is on Friday, November 22. The program aims to take advantage of the Christmas holidays to give opportunity to Ilocano youth to earn money for their education and basic needs. Beneficiaries...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos who wanted to expand their horizon and learn basic Japanese language attended a free orientation seminar on October 11, 2019 at the Ilocos Norte Capitol auditorium. Anne Marie Lizette B. Atuan, head of the Provincial Public Employment Service Office of the Ilocos Norte government said the orientation was open to all interested individuals aged 18 to 39 years old who are fit to work, either high school, college level or college graduate. According to Ms. Atuan, “this is a wonderful opportunity to Ilocanos who are planning to work in Japan or those who are engage in business tourism in the Philippines who are dealing with Japanese guests and tourists”. In partnership with the KRT International Training Center, Ms. Atuan said the Ilocos Norte government hopes to developed well-rounded Ilocanos to boost employment here and abroad. After the orientation, a Japanese training course was also offered to the appli...

Laoag City —In celebration of the 119 th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte-Public Employment Services Office (PGIN-PESO) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) partnered with local government units (LGUs) for the annual “PGIN Job Fair” at a Mall Expansion in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte on September 7, 2019. As part of its thrust to provide inclusive employment opportunities the PGIN, headed by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, has been serving thousands of applicants and professionals through its special employment and job recruitment programs. “ Daytoy a Job Fair -tayo ita a tawen ket makaited iti ad-adu nga opportunity para kadagiti job seekers gapu ta nairaman dagiti vacancies iti naduma-duma a government positions . Nangruna para kadagiti adda eligibility -na ti civil service , karaman pay dagiti Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license holders -tayo ,” PESO officer Lizette B. Atuan said. “ Dumal...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Hundreds of job offerings here and abroad are for up grabs again this month courtesy of overseas, local companies and national government agencies who are in need of additional workforce. Anne Marie Lizette B. Atuan, manager of the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) under the Ilocos Norte government announced the job fair set on June 22, 2019 at a San Nicolas mall’s Activity Center is meant for fresh graduates for the school year 2018-2019 who wish to apply for employment immediately. “There are thousands of jobs being offered and we welcome our new graduates to apply for their dream job,” said Ms. Atuan. On May 1, 2019 around 50 local and overseas companies joined the Labor Day job fair where they hired close to 300 people on the spot after prospective employers interviewed them. Owing to the continuing job fair programs, the PESO claims unemployment rate in Ilocos Norte continues to decrease, making the...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—A Korean school is partnering with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte to train Ilocanos in speaking the Korean language. Anne Marie Lizette B. Atuan, manager of the Public Employment Service Office under the provincial government announced that enrollment is now on-going for the short-term training course which could last for more or less 13 days. For the benefit of interested applicants who want to work in South Korea, the KRT International Training Center Inc. is reaching out to all Ilocanos in the province to provide Korean language training to them without going out of their comfort zone. For Ms. Atuan, she said, “This is a good opportunity to all interested individuals who wish to learn Korean language.” In May, the KRT Training Center initially conducted a career orientation at the Capitol attended by at least 75 participants. Last year, the government of South Korea decided to accept 56,000 forei...

Laoag City —As part of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s (PGIN) bid to continue boosting employment opportunities for Ilocanos, the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) conducted a career orientation in partnership with K.R.T International Training Center Inc. (K.R.T-ITCI) on May 29, 2019 at the Provincial Capitol cafeteria. K.R.T-ITCI, a TESDA-accredited agency offers Korean language studies and cultural programs for students as well as corporate trainings for businesses. It provides proper guidance in terms of skills and information needed to qualify applicants as overseas workers. “ Ang K.R.T-ITCI ay isang international training center na nagbibigay ng oportunidad sa mga Pilipinong gustong magtrabaho sa South Korea. Maaaring mag-attend sa career orientation na ito ang mga senior high school students, undergraduates, at kahit sinong interesado ,” PESO officer Lizette B. Atuan said. Aside from the K.R.T career orientation, the PGIN-PESO wil...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The planned salary increase for the 300 Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES)slots in Laoag was also impacted by the rejected 2019 annual budget. The 2019 annual budget was disapproved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in January this year and has not been tackled since until the 90-day period lapsed. City Budget Office (CBO) record shows that the allocated budget for SPES last year was PHP3,380,190; and fir this year, PHP3,559,580, or an increase of PHP179,390 was allocated. The increase in allocation would have translated to higher SPES salaries but with the disapproval of the annual budget, the increase was also shelved. The salaries for SPES was based on the existing entry level position of the city government similar to contract of service (COS), which has a rate of PHP387.73 per day. Community Affairs Department (CAD) officer II Vilma Ranchez said that 300 students can work and avail again of...