NEWS RELEASE 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗲-𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

May 1, 2026

CARAGA REGION— The 124th Labor Day celebration across the Caraga Region highlighted strengthened government interventions on employment facilitation, livelihood assistance, and youth workforce readiness through simultaneous job fairs, service caravans, and enterprise support programs held in key areas of the region.

𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

At Robinsons Mall Butuan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga led a major Labor Day Job Fair that gathered thousands of job seekers and employers. The event generated early employment gains, with 22 applicants hired on the spot as of mid-afternoon, while more opportunities remained open for both local and overseas placements.

In the same venue, DOLE Caraga also released P4.3 million in livelihood assistance to 11 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including three beneficiaries from Dinagat Islands. Each MSME received P400,000 intended for business expansion, improvement, and adaptation measures.

𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

In Dinagat Islands, the Schools Division Office conducted a province-wide Labor Day activity that drew around 200 learners, underscoring youth engagement in employment awareness and career readiness initiatives. Schools Division Superintendent Florence E. Almaden emphasized the importance of preparing learners not only for academic achievement but also for workforce participation and lifelong productivity.

In a related education initiative, the SDO Dinagat Islands also held an orientation on the 2026 Summer Remediation Program (SRP), strengthening learning recovery efforts through data-driven and targeted interventions.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲: 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

DepEd Surigao del Norte joined the Labor Day Job Fair and Service Caravan in Surigao City, supporting K to 12 and ALS graduates as they engaged with employers and accessed government services. The activity, led by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Karen L. Galanida together with DepEd Caraga monitoring teams, provided direct opportunities for employment application and government assistance services.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿: 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

In Tandag City, 97 Senior High School and ALS learners participated in the DOLE National Job Fair, gaining exposure to recruitment processes, career talks, and employer engagements designed to strengthen job readiness.

TVL students from Cabadbaran City and other schools in the province also joined the nationwide job fair in Butuan City, where they experienced real-world hiring procedures including interviews and application screening.

Beyond youth participation, livelihood support was also extended in Surigao del Sur, where 50 beneficiaries received assistance through the Acquisition of Fishing Boats and Complete Accessories Project.

𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿: 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀

In Agusan del Sur, DOLE provided livelihood assistance to 119 parents of child laborers at an evacuation center in Barangay 5, San Francisco. The intervention aims to strengthen family income sources while addressing child labor concerns through sustainable livelihood opportunities.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Across Caraga, a total of over P17.2 million was released under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program, benefiting 624 individuals through various community-based livelihood projects. These include fishery development initiatives, support for small-scale fisherfolk, and assistance for vulnerable sectors across multiple provinces.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲

The 124th Labor Day celebration in Caraga underscored a comprehensive and integrated approach to employment and livelihood promotion, combining large-scale job facilitation, targeted enterprise assistance, and community-based livelihood support. Across provinces, the convergence of government agencies and stakeholders reinforced a shared commitment to expand access to decent work, strengthen economic resilience, and equip the youth and vulnerable sectors with sustainable pathways toward productivity and inclusive growth.

By: Public Affairs Unit

DepEd Caraga

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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.