A Job Fair With a Bigger Purpose
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - For jobseekers in General Santos, the Handog ng Pangulo activity offered something particularly practical: a place to explore employment opportunities while government agencies brought their services closer to the community. The General Santos event included the Handog ng Pangulo Job Fair, where residents could look into available work and speak with employers. City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo Pacquiao also attended the activity and addressed participating jobseekers, according to the city’s September 14 announcement. The employment component fits the wider national Handog ng Pangulo program, which has brought job fairs and other government services together in communities across the country.
PHP50 Million Set Aside for Livelihood Support
The other major feature was the reported PHP50-million Livelihood Grant turned over to the General Santos City Government. According to the supplied LGU reference, the funding is intended to strengthen livelihood programs and provide additional support for beneficiaries who want to start or expand an income-generating activity. That makes the announcement particularly relevant beyond the day of the service caravan: employment can help residents enter the workforce, while livelihood assistance can give qualified beneficiaries another route toward earning. The national Handog ng Pangulo program likewise covers livelihood alongside employment, health, social protection, education, agriculture, fisheries, and small-business support.
From Looking for Work to Building a Livelihood
What makes the General Santos activity notable is the combination of two different paths toward economic opportunity. A job fair speaks to people searching for employment now, while livelihood assistance can support beneficiaries who are interested in running or expanding their own small ventures. The national service caravan was conducted nationwide on September 14 in connection with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s birthday, with government agencies and local governments bringing assistance closer to communities. For General Santos, the reported PHP50-million grant adds a concrete livelihood dimension to the city’s participation, alongside the employment opportunities made available through the Handog ng Pangulo Job Fair.
