PESO’S REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT RESTORED HOPE FOR A BATANGUEÑO BREADWINNER

Losing a job at any stage in life is a heavy blow, but facing sudden unemployment in your mid-forties with a family to support carries a unique, paralyzing weight. 

For 45-year-old Irvin "Imben" A. Quintela, a resident of Purok 1, San Isidro Sur Sto. Tomas City, that weight became a burden he carried after losing his long-term employment at one of the manufacturing companies in the province.

With his eldest child just about to enter college, the mounting financial pressure felt almost unbearable, compounded by a deeper, quiet fear that his age would make him less attractive to new employers in a highly competitive job market.

"I was deeply concerned that it would be difficult for me to find another job because of my age," Imben recalled. 

Determined to find a lifeline, Imben actively searched for options and eventually came across the official Facebook page of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Sto. Tomas. The page regularly broadcasts localized job fairs and employment networks maintained in close coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Guided by DOLE Secretary Francis N. Tolentino’s nationwide directive to eliminate employment friction, minimize job-hunting expenses, and local placement offices have intensified their corporate matching systems to help workers.

PESO City of Sto, Tomas published Job Vacancy Wall with active job vacancies across the province (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

Recognizing a clear path forward, Imben immediately participated in the referral and placement program in November 2025. 

The structured, highly organized assistance provided by PESO Sto. Tomas allowed him to bypass the traditional, exhausting hurdles of modern job hunting. Instead of spending dwindling resources traveling to multiple remote industrial hubs to drop off resumes, the program brought top-tier employers directly to him, facilitating rapid, back-to-back interviews with prominent partner industries. 

“Through their referrals to various partner companies, I was able to access numerous job opportunities more easily. The application process was smooth because I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by different companies immediately.” Imben shared.

The efficiency of this public placement mechanism yielded immediate breakthroughs. With the direct referral system, Imben successfully unloaded his burden and secured a vital position as a Line Engineer for Daikoku Electronics (Phils.), Inc., located at the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) in Tanauan City, Batangas. 

“Through the referral provided by PESO Sto. Tomas, I was able to find employment without the difficulty and expense of traveling to different places to apply. Because of this program, my job search became faster and more convenient, which eventually led to my employment." Imben stated

Mr. Irvin "Imben" A. Quintela, Line Engineer for Daikoku Electronics (Phils.), Inc. (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

In his new capacity, Imben’s deep technical expertise has been fully utilized. He now oversees the critical production setup and calibration of manufacturing machines, equipment, and fixtures. His extensive responsibilities also include conducting strict quality inspections on coils and finished sub-assemblies, analyzing production data, and performing preventive maintenance alongside the engineering team to prevent costly operational downtime.

Reflecting on the profound shift in his life, Imben emphasized that the intervention did far more than resolve an immediate financial crisis. It completely restored his self-confidence, broadened his perspective on local career longevity, and proved that with the right state support, age is no barrier to career reinvention.

"The program had a significant positive impact on my employment status," Imben shared. "Through the referrals, I gained faster access to employment opportunities and was successfully hired. As a result, I now have stable employment and greater financial security. The experience also restored my self-confidence and strengthened my determination to continue developing my career," he added.

PESO City of Sto, Tomas (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

Through the continuous expansion of these referral and placement frameworks, the department reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth. This successful partnership of DOLE and PESO ultimately proves that with efficient public service, the local labor market can remain resilient, ensuring that no worker is left behind in the country’s economic march forward.