NEWS RELEASE-𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐇𝐒-𝐓𝐕𝐋 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚

March 30, 2026

CARAGA, March 25, 2026 — 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚, 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫: 𝐎𝐧𝐞‑𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥‑𝐭𝐨‑𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

In Bayugan City, the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair was led by Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion, underscoring DepEd Caraga’s leadership in advancing school‑to‑work transition initiatives for Senior High School Technical‑Vocational‑Livelihood (SHS‑TVL) learners. Held at the Lope A. Asis Memorial Gymnasium, the activity brought employment opportunities and essential government services closer to learners. RD Asuncion spearheaded the fair and engaged with learners and partner agencies, joined by Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Teresa M. Real and Bayugan City Mayor Hon. Kirk A. Asis, whose presence reinforced strong institutional support for the initiative.

As a gesture of support, Mayor Asis provided ₱500.00 in financial assistance to each learner, helping ease participation and encouraging active engagement in the job fair despite prevailing challenges.

A total of 180 jobseekers participated in the Bayugan City fair, resulting in two learners hired on the spot. In addition, 26 SHS‑TVL learners availed themselves of the one‑stop shop services, which streamlined the processing of employment‑related documents and other government requirements, helping remove common barriers that often delay entry into the workforce.

Meanwhile, Butuan City made a strong impact as the fair, held at the Butuan City School of Arts and Trades, focused on empowering Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners to transition into meaningful employment. Six local employers, in partnership with government agencies, served 151 registered ALS jobseekers.

The initiative produced immediate results—12 learners were hired on the spot, while 107 participants benefited from free government services, including the processing of pre‑employment documents and other work‑related requirements.

The Butuan City activity was attended by ARD Pedro T. Escobarte Jr., CESO IV, Assistant Regional Director of DepEd Caraga; ARD Fatima Quorayce L. Bataga, Assistant Regional Director of DOLE Caraga; Dr. Florencio F. Sunico Jr., CESO III, Regional Director of TESDA Caraga; and Hon. Atty. Glenn C. Carampatana, Butuan City Councilor, together with officials and representatives from partner agencies.

For many participants, the fair was more than just an event—it was a turning point. Jenila Mejala, an ALS graduate from Brgy. Bugsukan and one of those hired, shared that bringing employers and government agencies together in one venue removed common barriers faced by first‑time jobseekers, particularly in completing employment requirements and accessing job opportunities. The Butuan City activity stood as a testament to how collaboration can transform potential into real employment outcomes and open doors to brighter futures.

Participating agencies—the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Social Security System (SSS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag‑IBIG Fund), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and private institutions—worked in synergy across both venues to deliver coordinated services. Their collective effort strengthened support systems and created a seamless pathway from education to employment.

The simultaneous conduct of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Bayugan City and Butuan City highlights DepEd Caraga’s commitment to inter‑agency collaboration, workforce readiness, and inclusive opportunities, ensuring that learners are not only prepared for employment but are actively connected to it.

By Jez Marie R. Macuno

PDO-ll, Public Affairs Unit

DepEd Caraga

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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