Agency Surpasses Employment Objective: Over 10,000 Individuals Secure Jobs through DMDP
Cebu City's Triumph as Top-Performing Peso Winner
Hear ye, hear ye! Cebu City has snatched the top spot as the best performing Public Employment Service Office (Peso) for the years 2024-2025 — a title bestowed by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole). This achievement, won under Cebu City's Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP), signifies the city's unwavering commitment to improving its residents' lives by offering accessible employment services, youth employment activities, and holistic career development.
According to Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, this honor serves as a testament to Cebu City's relentless pursuit of uplifting its denizens. By the numbers, at least 10,668 individuals snagged employment opportunities through the DMDP's various programs.
Garcia emphasized the city's commitment to lowering its unemployment rate, asserting, "I guarantee that you'll see more job programs here in the heart of Cebu." His priority is clear: provide more jobs for Cebu City residents.
DMDP head Anthony Aguhar shared the employment figures during a chat on April 30, 2025. Aguhar boasted a staggering 98 percent success rate in placing referred job seekers, with 10,668 out of 10,888 securing employment. Dole had set a goal of 10,000 placements for this period, and it looks like Cebu City knocked it out of the park. "We're aiming for a 100 percent success rate," Aguhar declared.
The DMDP intends to continue striving to surpass the targets set by the Dole for the 2025-2026 and will apply for the lavish 2025 Peso Award in June. Winner announcements are scheduled for 2026.
Job Seekers' Salvation: The DMDP
Going beyond merely job placements, the DMDP is heating things up with its livelihood programs, pushing toward entrepreneurial innovation. The goal is to instill sustainable business skills in program beneficiaries and link them with agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry. Aguhar's office has also been mentoring participants in financial management and business planning operations. It's essential to note that financial assistance or seed capital is typically managed by other agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Services.
"This isn't merely about livelihood; there's a real path toward sustainability here so that our future program beneficiaries can become self-made entrepreneurs," Aguhar reasoned.
Riding the Waves: The CMB's Livelihood Program
The City's Coastline Management Board's (CMB) livelihood program has been stirring up a frenzy, with 2,760 individuals gaining valuable new skills, according to CMB Chairman Ed Karlon Rama. The initiative offers a diverse array of training sessions, including candle making, soap and detergent production, food processing (like Spanish sardines and embotido), wellness therapies, and even footpath construction.
Though nearly all of Cebu City's 16 coastline barangays have participated, the distribution of P5,000 seed capital to recipients will be postponed until after the national and local elections, said Rama.
CMB livelihood program coordinator Gardenia Alaba reported that each barangay sends 30 participants per program, with individuals choosing their preferred training.
- Cebu City, as the best performing Public Employment Service Office (Peso), has gained a significant achievement under the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP), placing it at the forefront of offering accessible employment services in 2024-2025.
- DMDP head Anthony Aguhar beamed with pride as he shared the impressive 98% success rate in placing referred job seekers for the period of 2024-2025, making it evident that Cebu City is knuckling down to meet its goal of lowering its unemployment rate.
- Eager to continue its momentum, the DMDP is setting ambitious targets for the 2025-2026 period and striving to secure the candrorous 2025 Peso Award in June, with a goal of total success in job placements.
- Simultaneously, the DMDP is also extending its reach beyond job placements, focusing on establishing sustainable business skills among program participants and offering connections with agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry.
- Meanwhile, the Cebu City Coastline Management Board's (CMB) livelihood program has made a splash, equipping 2,760 individuals with valuable skills across various industries, from candle making to food processing, gathered through an assortment of training sessions.
- Though funds such as the P5,000 seed capital are yet to be distributed due to the upcoming national and local elections, over two thousand participants have already honed their skills and chosen their preferred training programs under the CMB's initiative.
