Hundreds Hired on the Spot, Nearly 2,500 Displaced Hanjin Workers Assisted in 2nd BBB Jobs Caravan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Thousands of applicants got the opportunity to seek their next career, while hundreds were hired on-the-spot during the second Build Build Build = Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan held at the Subic Gymnasium, Subic Bay Freeport Zone last Saturday, 09 February 2019.

The one-day job caravan was envisioned to accommodate job seekers in the country, especially the displaced workers of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil).

A total of 4,051 applicants attended the job caravan, wherein 2,464 or 60.8% were former HHIC-Phil employees, and the remaining 1,587 or 39.2% came in as walk-in applicants. Based on preliminary results, 186 applicants were hired on-the-spot, 99 of which are from HHIC-Phil.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the applicants that were hired on-the-spot yesterday would function in the following positions: welders, electricians, masons, fitters, engineers, drivers, painters, scaffolders, riggers, administrative assistants / clerks, sales, and marketing.

Around 30,000 jobs were available from 106 employers during the event.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who ordered to hold the job fair in Subic immediately.

"Nang malaman po ng Pangulong Duterte na nagkaproblema po ang Hanjin, nagpa-organize po siya agad ng jobs caravan, at natutuwa naman ako sa nakikita ko dahil marami ang naghahanap ng trabaho, at marami na ang na-hire on-the-spot. Asahan niyo po, walang tigil ang programa ng Pangulong Duterte at ang pangarap niya sa Pilipinas na lahat po ng ating mga kababayan ay magkakaroon ng trabaho,” Secretary Villar said.

Various companies took part in the event, including contractors of the DPWH, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), DTI-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP), and locators of SBMA and CDC.

"The Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan complements the Build Build Build Program dahil nakakapagbigay tayo ng trabaho at oportunidad para makiisa ang ating mga kababayan sa paggawa ng mga imprastraktura na naglalayong paunlarin ang ating bansa," DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The jobs caravan, which forms part of the BBB infrastructure program, was organized by the Build Build Build Inter-Agency Committee, in partnership with the DOLE, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).

The BBB Inter-Agency Committee is composed of the DPWH, Department of Finance (DOF), DOTr, Department of Budget Management (DBM), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the BCDA.

The first Build Build Build = Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan was held on 12 August 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, where 12,000 job vacancies from more than 40 employers were offered.

AFP, PNP and PCG Active Personnel to Get 20% Fare Discount in PUBs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In recognition of the contribution and sacrifice of the men and women who risk their lives to safeguard our country, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), is set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today, 11 February 2019, granting fare discounts to uniformed personnel.

Personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) who are in active duty shall be given a fare discount of twenty percent (20%) in all city and provincial Public Utility Buses (PUBs).

To avail of the fare discount, uniformed personnel from the aforementioned agencies are only required to present a valid ID as proof of active service.

Set to sign the MOA are AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, and participating bus operators.


The special privilege of PUB fare discounts to uniformed personnel is a directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to honor the men and women in uniform for their exemplary service in preserving the sovereignty, national security, and peace and order of our country.


“In line with the President’s directive, this is our way of giving back to our soldiers, policemen and Coast Guard servicemen who secure our nation and protect the Filipino people. We owe the peace and order and national security of our country to their inspiring service,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.


“We salute the relentless efforts of our uniformed personnel, and the LTFRB is honored to be part of this expression of gratitude,” said LTFRB Chairman Delgra.


The special fare discount for all uniformed personnel of the AFP, PNP, and PCG shall continue and remain effective indefinitely, which will then be reviewed one year thereafter.

Smart Announces Shortlisted Entries in Nationwide Search for Digital Innovations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

All roads lead to the grand finals as Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) announced today the most #FutureReady digital innovations who will vie for the top honors at the 15th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards.

Representatives from the wireless services provider and its parent company PLDT, as well as partners from IdeaSpace and Huawei Philippines judged over a hundred entries submitted by colleges and universities nationwide. These were Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G solutions under Social Innovations, Consumer, Business-to-Business, and Machine-to-Machine categories.

With the theme “#FutureReady: Creative Innovations Beyond Imagination”, the Top 20 entries included bids from Luzon schools such as Asia Pacific College, Batangas State University, Bicol University Polangui Campus, Camarines Sur Polythechnic Colleges, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Mapua University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sto. Tomas Branch, Technological University of the Philippines, National Teachers College, and University of the Cordilleras.

Shortlisted entries from VisMin were from University of Cebu – Banilad, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose – Recoletos, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Southern Philippines, and University of the Immaculate Conception.

The revolutionary ideas of the Top 20 finalists will be developed into full blown applications at a SWEEP Boot Camp to be held in Metro Manila this March. Final judging and awarding of total cash prizes amounting to over one million pesos will be held in May.

Launched in 2004, the SWEEP Awards is an annual competition that encourages innovation and excellence in wireless applications development among students of tertiary schools.

Short for Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program, SWEEP is an industry-academe linkage program with a network of more than 40 colleges and universities all over the country that offer ECE and IT courses. For 15 years, Smart has partnered with these schools to help them produce industry-ready graduates or technopreneurs by leveraging on its network, infrastructure and technologies.

For more information on SWEEP, visit www.facebook.com/sweepschoolsorwww.facebook.com/smartcommunities.