16 Hired On The Spot at PESO Bacolod Christmas Job Fair

December 22, 2025

Executive Assistant Jovelyn Canoy (1st from left), PESO–Bacolod Coordinator, joins employer representatives and John Sidrian Arguelles (2nd from right), a jobseeker hired on the spot during the Christmas Job Fair at the Bacolod City Government Center.*

Sixteen jobseekers were hired on the spot at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)–Bacolod’s Christmas Job Fair, held at the Bacolod City Government Center on Sunday, December 21, 2025.

One of those hired was John Sidrian Arguelles of Barangay Banago, a former service crew member who secured a position as a mason at a construction firm.

“I just tried applying and never expected to be the first one to land a job before Christmas,” said Arguelles, who had been unemployed for two months.

Arguelles said the opportunity will help him provide for his family, especially his 7-month-old baby girl.

PESO-Bacolod Coordinator Jovelyn Canoy said the annual fair was held in line with Mayor Greg Gasataya’s directive to offer employment opportunities to Bacolodnons during the holiday season.

“We are glad to assist our job applicants in finding opportunities and employment as we welcome Christmas and the New Year,” Canoy said, emphasizing the city government’s continued commitment to job generation.

Over 40 companies participated in the event, which aims to assist up to 6,000 job applicants in the city.

Records further showed that from January to November 21, 2025, more than 700 companies offered a total of 112,155 job vacancies, leading to the hiring of 1,585 individuals through PESO–Bacolod.* (Bacolod City Communications Office text & photos)