CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2025-620 (Authored by: Honorable Lance Samuel F. Co) "AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE (PESO) AS A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF PAGADIAN, DEFINING ITS DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR" WHEREAS, 1987 constitution, Article II, Section-The state shall promote a just and dynamic social order that ensures prosperity and independence, and frees people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote fully employment, and improve quality of life. WHEREAS, 1987 Constitution, Article XIII, Section 3-The state shall afford full protection to labor, promote full employment, and equal work opportunities regardless of gender, and regulate relations between workers and employees; WHEREAS, E.O No. 138 series 2021, ordered the full devolution of certain functions of the Executive Branch to Local Government Units (LGUs). Thus, LGU are not expected to assume greater responsibility in delivering basic services; WHEREAS, R.A. No. 7859, institutionalized PESOs in every province, key city, and other strategic areas. It created a national facilitation service network to help Filipinos find employment; WHEREAS, R.A. 10691 Section 6, provides for the establishment and operation of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and job placement offices in Educational Institutions (EIs); NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (15th City Council) of Pagadian City in session assembled that: Section 1. Title. - This Ordinance shall be known as the "Public Employment Service Office of the City of Pagadian." Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the city to promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all, and for this purpose, to strengthen and expand the existing employment facilitation service machinery of the government particularly at the local level. Section 3. Establishment of the Public Employment Service Office. Mandated by Republic Act No. 8759 or the Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999 as reinforced by Republic Act No. 10691, local government units are expected to carry out the above-declared policy that there shall be established in all capital towns of provinces, cities and other strategic areas a Public Employment Service Office, hereinafter referred to as "PESO," which shall be community-based and maintained largely by local government units (LGUs) and a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs). The PESOs shall be linked to the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for coordination and technical supervision, and to the DOLE central office, to constitute the national employment service network. Section 4. Objectives of the PESO. - In general, the PESO shall ensure the prompt, timely and efficient delivery of employment service and provision of information on the other DOLE programs. Specifically, the PESO shall: Provide a venue where people could explore simultaneously various employment options and actually seek assistance they prefer; Serve as referral and information center for the various services and programs of DOLE and other government agencies present in the area; Provide clients with adequate information on employment and labor market situation in the area; and Network with other PESOs within the region on employment for job exchange purposes. Section 5. Organizational structure of PESO with its functions is indicated below: Section 6. Functions of the PESO. - The PESO shall have the following functions: Employment Facilitation/ Referral Division: Job referral and placement:?PESOs evaluate the qualifications of job seekers and refer them to job vacancies that match their skills. This includes local, overseas, public, and private sector employment. Livelihood and self-employment programs:?PESOs assist those with entrepreneurial qualities by referring them to livelihood and self-employment programs from both government and non-governmental organizations. Special recruitment activities:?The office organizes and supervises job fairs and special recruitment activities to bring together job seekers and employers in a single venue. Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES):?This is a DOLE special program and PESO will be part as the implementor of this. This is a program that provides temporary employment to poor but deserving students during summer or Christmas break to help them continue their education. As implementor of DOLE special programs, Government Internship Program (GIP):?A DOLE special program that offers young workers the opportunity to serve in government agencies and gain work experience. JobStart Philippines Program:?A program for at-risk youth that enhances their employability through life skills training, technical training, and paid internships.? Linkages with other agencies:?The office serves as an information and referral center for various DOLE programs and services from other government agencies present in the area. Assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs):?In coordination with other agencies, PESOs provide reintegration services for returning OFWs, which include referrals for skills training, livelihood programs, and local employment. Intra-regional job exchange:?PESOs establish a network with other PESOs within the region to facilitate job exchanges and services.? Labor Market Information/Counselling Division: Labor market information (LMI):?PESOs collect and disseminate information on local employment and investment trends, labor supply and demand, and DOLE programs. They also maintain an updated registry of skills to help match qualified applicants with job. Partnership with employers:?PESOs actively encourage employers to submit lists of job vacancies on a regular basis. They also use online platforms, to simplify the hiring and job application process. Workers Hiring for Infrastructure Projects (WHIP):?Monitors the requirement for contractors of government infrastructure projects to hire a percentage of their skilled and unskilled labor from the local area. Career guidance and employment coaching:?PESO staff provide counseling and coaching to job seekers on their career options. This includes pre-employment orientations, skills assessments, and promoting work ethics. Evaluation and Placement Division: Recruitment and Selection: The division handles the evaluation and selection process for vacant positions through comparative assessment to identify the most qualified candidates. Placement of Personnel: This involves assigning successful candidates to specific units or offices after the evaluation process. Section 7. Other Services of the PESO. - In addition to the functions enumerated in the preceding section, every PESO shall also undertake the following programs and activities: (a) Jobs Fairs - These shall be conducted periodically all over the country to bring together in one venue job seekers and employers for immediate matching; (b) Livelihood and Self-Employment Bazaars - These will give clients information on the wide array of livelihood programs they choose to avail of, particularly in the rural areas; (c) Special Credit Assistance for Placed Overseas Workers - This type of assistance will enable poor but qualified applicants to avail of opportunities for overseas employment; (d) Special Program for Employment of Students and Out-of- School Youth (SPESOS) - This program shall endeavor to provide employment to deserving students and out-of-school youth coming from poor families during summer and/or Christmas vacations as provided for under Republic Act No. 7323 and its implementing rules, to enable them to pursue their education; (e) Work Appreciation Program (WAP) - This program aims to develop the values of work appreciation and ethics by exposing the young to actual work situations; (f) Other programs/activities developed by DOLE to enhance provision of employment assistance to PESO clients, particularly for special groups of disadvantaged workers such as persons with disabilities (PWDs) and displaced workers. Section 8. Funding. - The funding shall be charged against the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of the City Local Government Unit and the same sis subject for accounting ang audit. Section 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, ordinances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. Section 10. Effectivity - This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval and posting in at least two (2) conspicuous places within the territorial jurisdiction of the Local Government Unit of Pagadian City, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (15th City Council) during its 18th Regular Session held on 26 November 2025 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center Building, Santiago District, Pagadian City. MAPHILINDO Q. OBAOB Chairman Pro-Tempore, Presiding Verified: JACKIELYN KRYSTYL C. BANA SP Member/Floor Leader Attested: ELKID P. NACUA Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Approved: SAMUEL S. CO City Mayor Date:_________________