STAN Caravan Job Fair expands access to work and services across Quezon districts

By Jay B. Laurino Representatives from SSS, PhilHealth, PSA, and PAG-IBIG Fund provide on-site assistance to applicants during the STAN Cara...

By Jay B. Laurino

Representatives from SSS, PhilHealth, PSA, and PAG-IBIG Fund provide on-site assistance to applicants during the STAN Caravan Job Fair in Quezon. (Quezon PIO)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Delivering immediate hiring outcomes and on-site services, the Quezon Provincial Government continues to advance its employment and livelihood agenda through a recent Serbisyo, Trabaho at Negosyo (STAN) Caravan Job Fair. A program designed to bring practical employment solutions directly to communities, this initiative supports provincial efforts to improve access to jobs and public services by bringing them closer to local residents.

According to Noemi M. Broqueza, focal person for the Referral and Placement Service of the Quezon Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the program brings hiring opportunities and frontline government services closer to jobseekers in multiple districts of Quezon. She said the caravan approach reduces barriers to employment by delivering coordinated services directly within communities.



The program was led by Angelina “Doktora Helen” D.L. Tan and Anacleto “Third” A. Alcala, and implemented through the Quezon Provincial PESO as the primary coordinating unit. Broqueza said the STAN Caravan forms part of a continuing provincial employment and livelihood initiative that regularly brings job fairs and government services to different districts.

The STAN Caravan Job Fair was conducted in the municipalities of Gumaca, Infanta, and Catanauan, enabling the program to reach jobseekers in diverse geographic areas of the province. PESO said the host municipalities were selected to represent the first, third, and fourth districts of Quezon as part of a district-based rotation aimed at improving access to employment services.

Participating private companies offered job openings across a range of entry-level and skilled positions suitable for both first-time jobseekers and experienced workers. On-site services were also delivered by the Social Security System, PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority, and PAG-IBIG Fund, allowing applicants to process documentation and membership concerns in one setting.

A total of 264 registered applicants participated in the job fair, underscoring the demand for accessible employment and government services at the community level. Of this number, 52 were hired on the spot for positions such as branch personnel, production operators, cashiers, baggers, and housekeeping staff.

Broqueza said applicants who were not hired during the event were registered in the PESO employment database for referral and future job matching. She added that PESO continues to coordinate with employers and partner agencies to support follow-up placement and employment facilitation.

Broqueza also conveyed her message on behalf of Genecille P. Aguirre, PGADH/PESO Manager, emphasizing that the provincial government aims to deliver programs that directly improve livelihood conditions and employment prospects across Quezon.

The impact of the STAN Caravan Job Fair was reflected in the employment outcomes of participating jobseekers, including those hired during the activity and those placed for further referral. The program is viewed as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen local employment outcomes and workforce participation at the district level.

Charlene Cadiz, a jobseeker from Mulanay who was hired by Supervalue Inc., said the program provided fresh graduates with an opportunity to secure employment without leaving their hometowns. She said the caravan reduced the need to seek work far from family and community support systems.

Through initiatives such as the STAN Caravan Job Fair, the Quezon Provincial Government continues to promote accessible Serbisyo, Trabaho at Negosyo for Quezonians across the province. The program supports inclusive growth and contributes to the long-term goal of building a stable and resilient local workforce.