Ordinance Elevating PESO Into a Full-Fledged Department Ok’d on 3rd Reading

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has unanimously approved on Third and Final Reading an ordinance principally authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, DPA, elevating the Bacolod Public Employment Service Office (PESO) into a full-fledged department under the Office of the City Mayor. The measure amends City Ordinance No. 957, Series of 2021, with the objective of strengthening the City’s employment generation programs, improving labor market services, and making government employment assistance more accessible to every Bacolodnon.

According to Councilor Distrito, the ordinance is a major step toward modernizing the City’s employment services in line with Republic Act No. 8759, as amended by Republic Act No. 10691, which mandates the strengthening of Public Employment Service Offices nationwide. “Employment is one of the most effective anti-poverty measures. By elevating PESO into a department, we are giving it the organizational capacity, manpower, and resources necessary to respond to the growing needs of job seekers, employers, workers, and entrepreneurs, as they will now be headed by a Department Head and an Assistant Department Head.” Councilor Distrito said.

The ordinance significantly expands the functions of the office beyond traditional job placement. It institutionalizes enhanced job matching and labor market analytics, entrepreneurship and livelihood facilitation, inclusive employment programs for vulnerable sectors, digital employment services, and decentralized service delivery. It also mandates the establishment of Barangay Employment Service Office (BESO) Desks in all barangays to bring employment assistance closer to communities, while creating a Digital Employment Platform that will facilitate online applicant registration, job matching, employer databases, and integration with national employment systems.

To support its expanded mandate, the ordinance restructures the organization by creating a Department Head and Assistant Department Head, organizing the office into five specialized divisions, Employment Facilitation, Labor Market Information and Research, Training and Career Development, Livelihood and Entrepreneurship, and Administrative and Support Services, and providing for an expanded staffing pattern subject to Civil Service Commission rules and the availability of funds.

“This measure ensures that Bacolod has a stronger institution dedicated to connecting people with employment opportunities, supporting businesses in finding qualified workers, strengthening skills development, and promoting entrepreneurship. Ultimately, this is about creating more jobs, improving livelihoods, and making economic opportunities more accessible to every Bacolodnon,” Atty. Distrito said.*