DOLE's reactivation of Job Placement Offices supports higher education institutions in improving campus-based employment facilitation services, helping students secure meaningful careers after graduation . Investing in these employment mechanisms ensures a brighter future for Pampanga's young professionals.
Campus-Based Job Placement Offices: Bridging Education and Employment
DOLE's initiative to reactivate and establish Job Placement Offices across Central Luzon is a strategic investment in the region's future workforce . During an orientation held at Widus Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, 160 representatives from higher education institutions, Public Employment Service Offices, and national government agencies gathered to coordinate employment facilitation services . DOLE Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza Cruz emphasized that these collaborative efforts aim to enhance students' and graduates' employability, facilitate career guidance, strengthen industry linkages, and improve job placement outcomes . By institutionalizing JPOs on campuses, DOLE ensures that students have access to career development support, job matching, and labor market information while still in school . This approach mirrors successful partnerships like the DOLE-UP Job Placement Office, which provides students and alumni with free employment facilitation and career counseling services.
JobStart Philippines: Life Skills Training and Internships
JobStart Philippines, DOLE's flagship youth employment program, provides a comprehensive pathway from training to meaningful employment . The program begins with a 10-day Life Skills Training where participants receive a daily allowance of PHP 400, plus transportation assistance and insurance coverage . Trainees also undergo Technical Skills Training, followed by structured internships with employer partners. Through a partnership with IBPAP, DOLE is expanding JobStart in the IT-BPM sector to provide career counseling, soft and core skills training, and industry-specific technical training aligned with labor market needs . The program has already transformed the lives of nearly 30,000 Filipino youth, including those previously not in education, employment, or training . Government funding of PHP 5.8 million in Davao del Norte alone supports 183 beneficiaries with training and internship opportunities across diverse industries.
LEGS and GIP: Labor Education and Government Experience
DOLE also prepares graduating students through the Labor Education for Graduating Students (LEGS) program, which equips them with practical knowledge of labor rights, workplace standards, and professional conduct . The program covers workers' basic rights, fair compensation, occupational safety, job security, proper job application procedures, and DOLE programs for youth and first-time jobseekers . For those seeking hands-on experience, the Government Internship Program (GIP) offers young Filipinos aged 18 to 30 the chance to gain meaningful work experience in public service . Under strengthened guidelines, interns receive stipends equivalent to the highest prevailing minimum wage in their area, with internship periods ranging from three to twelve months depending on their qualifications . The program has already engaged over 5,700 young workers in the first quarter of 2026 alone , providing them with essential workplace competencies and a deeper appreciation of public service.
