DOLE JOB FAIR BRIDGES LOCAL CAREER OPPORTUNITY CLOSER TO HOME

Long, exhausting daily commutes and an uncertain job search once stood between 25-year-old Gicelle H. Alcantara and her professional aspirations. 

Prior to participating in the job fair, Alcantara was employed in Calamba, Laguna. In her previous job, she constantly faced heavy traffic and limited public transportation during peak hours while traveling daily from her residence in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.  

Ms. Gicelle H. Alcantara, Production Specialist II and Assistant Section Leader at Shimano Philippines, Inc. (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

Beyond the grueling commute, the traditional process of searching for vacancies and submitting individual applications across various platforms yielded little success. 

As Alcantara narrated, he recalled that "these challenges made it difficult to find a company where I could build a meaningful and stable career."

Her career path shifted direction following a phone call from the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Sto. Tomas, facilitated by focal person Ms. Mylen O. Adal. 

The PESO team reached out to check on her employment status and warmly encouraged her to participate in the upcoming job fair scheduled on October 28, 2025. 

Reflecting on the timely intervention, Alcantara shared that "if the PESO staff had not reached out... I might not have discovered the opportunity." 

(Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

Alcantara attended the job fair and found the entire registration, screening, and interview process to be highly systematic. 

The single-day event successfully bridged the gap between her qualifications and the employment needs of Shimano (Philippines) Inc., located at the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Alcantara was hired as a Production Specialist II and subsequently appointed as an Assistant Section Leader. 

In her current role, she monitors production performance, assists in leading the production team to meet daily output goals, implements line optimization strategies, and ensures safe manufacturing operations.

Securing employment closer to home has completely resolved her commuting difficulties and restored her peace of mind, “working in a nearby city has significantly improved my work-life balance, it gave me confidence that hard work and dedication can create opportunities for career advancement." Alcantara noted.

The employment matching of Gicelle H. Alcantara to an work opportunity in her hometown, a career goal she used to dream about, highlights the continuous efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), under the leadership of Secretary Francis Tolentino, to bring rapid, localized employment facilitation services directly to communities through robust collaborations with local government PESOs.