INTERNATIONAL and local companies are expected to offer Baguio and Benguet residents some 16,000 jobs in the city’s Labor Day celebration.

On May 1 and 2, the Baguio City Government, in cooperation with other government agencies, is going to conduct a job fair at the Baguio Convention Center entitled, “Jobapalooza.” This is a national event ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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Synchronized job’s fairs are going to be held in Davao, Cebu, the National Capital Region, and Baguio. Its main purpose is to provide employment.

“It is a more relevant (way to celebrate Labor Day) because people need jobs due to the ripple effect of the world wide (financial crisis),” said Romelda Frances Escaño of the city’s Public Employment Service Office (Peso).

Baguio was chosen to be part of the Labor Day event since it has many residents and it is education-based. Thus, the city has many qualified applicants.

About 16,000 job opportunities are going to be offered to the public by local and international companies.

Jobs such as domestic helpers, nurses, all types of engineers, crew members, cooks, drivers and others will be offered.

The Baguio Convention Center will open at 8 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. to accommodate as much applicants as possible.

Organizers are encouraging as much people as possible to avail of these job opportunities.

This event happens twice a year, during May in honor for the celebration of Labor Day and September in honor for the celebration of Baguio City’s birth.

Interested job hunters are welcome to go to the fair. All they have to do is bring with them their resumes and credentials, as well as their enthusiasm for work.

Other activities will also be held during these days at the convention center.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office is going to organize “Diskuwento Sale” where they will sell basic commodities to the public at very low and discounted prices.

Twenty to 25 Manila-based manufacturers will be present to provide consumer goods like sugar, milk, noodles and others. Its primary goal is to “help displaced workers,” Escaño added. “But it’s not only for displaced workers, it’s for all.”

In order to prevent scarcity of discounted products, there will be a limit on the goods to be purchased, which is P3,000 per customer. This will also be available for retail only, not for wholesalers to give chance to other people as well.

Other services offered during this event are medical mission, government service clinic, livelihood bazaar, wellness program, OFW free video calls, Phil-Jobnet-PGMA kiosk, and Jam in Worship.

Other perks are also available to the public. Free call on abroad, online job registration, manicure, pedicure, and massage are some of the offers in the event. Thousands of job offers are already getting set for the job’s fair.

Labor Day celebration is an institutionalized activity of the City of Baguio, with the supervision of Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and through the management of Peso.

This year’s job fair is also a “pre-centennial labor celebration,” Escaño said, since it is Baguio’s centennial.