The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office VIII successfully conducted the Capacity Development Training for Newly Designated Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers and Job Placement Officers (JPOs) in March 2026, reinforcing the region’s commitment to building a competent and responsive public employment service network in Eastern Visayas.
The activity brought together newly designated PESO Managers from local government units and Job Placement Officers from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs). The training served as an intensive orientation on the mandates, functions, and operational standards of PESOs and JPOs, while fostering stronger collaboration among employment service providers across the region.
Designed to strengthen the capabilities of newly appointed practitioners, the training covered the legal and policy framework governing public employment services, including the implementation of Republic Act No. 10691 or the PESO Act of 1999, as amended. Participants were oriented on their roles in employment facilitation, labor market information, career development support, employer engagement, and referral and placement services, ensuring a common understanding of the standards expected from frontline employment service offices.
The training also introduced participants to the PESO 5-Point Agenda, highlighting regional priorities on PESO institutionalization, digital transformation, workforce development, labor market intelligence, and strategic partnerships. Discussions emphasized the importance of establishing fully institutionalized PESOs with dedicated offices, plantilla personnel, and sustained local government support to strengthen employment service delivery throughout Eastern Visayas.
Participants were likewise updated on the implementation of DOLE’s key employment programs. Technical sessions focused on program implementation guidelines, documentation requirements, monitoring systems, and reporting timelines to promote consistency and accountability across all PESOs and JPOs in the region.
A major highlight of the training was the introduction of HIRE Eastern Visayas (HIRE EV), the region’s integrated digital employment platform that will serve as the single online gateway for public employment services. Participants received hands-on orientation on profile creation, vacancy posting, office directory management, and the platform’s integrated modules, which include labor market information dashboards, employer services, government job opportunities, and social protection programs. The activity also underscored the critical role of PESOs and JPOs in ensuring the successful rollout and utilization of the platform across Eastern Visayas.
Through the Capacity Development Training, DOLE Regional Office VIII reaffirmed its commitment to empowering newly designated PESO Managers and Job Placement Officers with the competencies, tools, and networks needed to deliver efficient, accessible, and client-centered employment services.