The City Government of Valenzuela, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO), partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to launch two significant programs aimed at job seekers and children workers. The Local and Overseas Mega Job Fair and the anti-child labor initiative “Project Angel Tree” took place on September 25, 2024, at the Event Center of SM City Valenzuela.
The Mega Job Fair attracted numerous Valenzuelano job seekers, featuring 28 local companies and five overseas-based employers actively hiring walk-in applicants. In addition to job opportunities, the event served as a “one-stop shop” for various pre-employment services, including Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Project AYOS, and PAGIBIG.
By the end of the event, 942 individuals had registered, with 200 job seekers—92 male and 108 female—hired on the spot. Furthermore, the One-Stop Shop provided services to 189 applicants seeking pre-employment assistance.
Alongside the job fair, the city also launched “Project Angel Tree,” part of DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program. This initiative aims to support documented child workers by providing social services and opportunities for leisure, allowing them to temporarily set aside their work responsibilities. The program benefited 46 child laborers in Valenzuela City, with the local government collaborating with SM City Valenzuela and various benefactors to distribute food, school supplies, and gift packs. Kidzoona offered free playtime for the children, while Jollibee provided lunch and additional gift packs.
Mayoress Tiffany Gatchalian, along with Councilors Niña Lopez and Ricar Enriquez, representatives from DOLE NCR-CAMANAVA, the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), PESO, the Rotary Club of Valenzuela, and the Valenzuela Lions Club, collectively signed the ZERO CHILD-LABOR MANIFESTO. This agreement signifies their commitment to combat child labor in the Philippines and raise public awareness.
Project Angel Tree envisions a country free from child labor. While Valenzuela City continues to address the challenges posed by documented child workers, the initiative reinforces the city’s dedication to eradicating child labor through ongoing labor and employment initiatives.
Additionally, the city government conducted an orientation on the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for the parents of these children. This emergency employment initiative aims to provide parents with the resources to support their families, ultimately enabling their children to focus on education rather than labor.