Special task force for job hunters

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, July 13  — The provincial government has created a special task force which will handle the employment of the people of Ilocos Norte.
Governor Imee Marcos said, “Task Force Trabaho” will be fielded in villages to scout for possible employees and employers.

“(The task force staff) will not be staying in the capitol. They will immerse in the villages to look for people looking for jobs and employers who are in need of workers,” she said.

The governor said she will keep her promise to provide jobs, a commitment she made when she first ran as governor in 2010 through the campaign brand, “Manang Imee equals trabaho.”

The governor said she will tap the assistance of government agencies such as the Technical Education Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, and technical-vocational schools around the province.

She said residents, however, must give in to the challenges that are required for employment. “Agsagana tayon (we must be ready),” she said.

Citing records in the construction industry, Marcos said around 6,000 jobs were created in the past six months and more jobs are being created which require greater skills.

She said the construction industry posted a growth of 11.1 percent in 2010 and is projected to reach 16 percent by the end of the year.

The industry, however, needs more skilled workers to fill the jobs, she added.

“We are looking for skilled carpenters, plumbers, welders, pipe-fitters, glass-fitters, roofers, and workers who are trained to handle power tools and in pre-fab technologies,” she said.

Marcos said the people of Ilocos must capitalize on the construction boom by acquiring skills.

She said the booming tourism industry also spelled more job opportunities with the recruitment of more police, Coast Guard personnel, and in the military.

Other job opportunities await those providing electronic surveillance such as operators of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and in the areas of medical and legal transcription.

She said the provincial government continues to develop economic zones and commercial spots around the province.

The governor said existing eco-zones in public buildings namely the Takuat Training Center in San Nicolas town and at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City have begun attracting investors. (JCR/CCA-PIA1, Ilocos Norte)