CLOCKWISE STARTING FROM THE TOPMOST PHOTO: DOLE-2 Director Atty. Sarah Buena Mirasol (4th from right-), DTI-2 OIC-RD Ruben Diciano (5th from right) and Director Harold Nacional of NICA (6th from right) together with DTI-2 OIC Assistant RD Salvacion Castillejos (4th from left) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Business Fair. At right is the banner for the event. Middle photo shows the attendees and visitors. At left, DTI’s ARD Castillejos delivers the message of RD Diciano.

More than 1500 jobseekers, consumers and small business owners visited the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Jobs and Business Fair on 12 June, Independence Day at the People’s Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Majority of those who came were hopeful new graduates seeking employment, both local and overseas.  According to the Department of Labor and Employment Region 2 (DOLE-2), 52 companies participated in the job fair.  Of the 1545 registered applicants, 108 were hired on the spot as nurses, engineers, and skilled workers such as cooks, electricians, kitchen helpers and housekeepers.

The Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 (DTI-2) as collaborating agency for the TNK initiative organized a Business Fair with the following component: a mini trade fair, Diskwento Caravan and business consultancy services.  The business fair recorded 12 exhibitors participating in the trade fair and generating sales amounting to 36,000 pesos.  Twenty-eight (28) entrepreneurs availed of business consultancy services including inquiries regarding the government’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3 Program which is designed to bring down the interest rate at which micro-finance is made available to small business owners.  The Diskwento Caravan benefitted 351 consumers with the five participating firms making P 15,904 cash sales.

DTI has been regularly conducting Diskwento Caravans (DC) since 2009.  It is intended to provide an opportunity for consumers to access basic goods, school supplies and prime commodities at reduced prices by bringing manufacturers or wholesalers-distributors closers to the consumers.  It holds at least two DC events annually, one before school opening in May or June dubbed as “Balik Eskwela” edition, the other before Christmas.♦

Date of release: 19 June 2019