Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Kapamilya actor Paul Salas are among the personalities expected to join government, management and labor groups in Western Visayas when they gather in an event dubbed "Fiesta sa Mayo para sa Mga Obreros" this Saturday, May 26 along Delgado –Valeria Streets, Iloilo City.

This was learned from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. – Iloilo President Joemarie "Joeboy" Agriam during the event's preparatory meeting at the DOLE Regional Office 6.

Agriam is the chairman of the Job Fair Committee of the 2012 Labor Month celebration.

Agriam said Baldoz was invited to give a keynote speech during the food festival and concert organized by the Department of Labor and Employment 6 and partner agencies to culminate the month-long celebration in the region.

As part of its support to the celebration, ABS-CBN will be bringing in Paul Salas to further highlight and add color to the event. Salas is known for his appearances in ABS-CBN's "Oka2Kat", "Todo Max" and "Aryana".

"Fiesta sa Mayo para sa Mga Obreros" which will start at 6 p.m. will be marked likewise by the awarding of certificates as DOLE's way of recognizing its partners from the business and worker sectors; partner agencies and organizations; medical and dental practitioners; and attached agencies for their significant support and effort in the various activities conducted that contributed to the success of the first celebration of the Labor Month in the region.

Data obtained from DOLE 6 indicated that 135 local companies and 46 overseas placement agencies participated in the Job Fairs conducted in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod on May 1, one of the major activities of the month-long celebration.

Based on the same data a total of 1, 344 job applicants in the region were hired-on-the-spot and 18,428 more applicants were referred and interviewed during the simultaneous job fairs. Of the total number of HOTS, 1, 314 are hired for local employment and 30 for overseas works.

Participants of the series of Entrepreneurship Forums conducted by the Iloilo Business Club and Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organizations, Inc will also receive their certificates during the event.

Aside from the local bands invited to perform, there will also be presentations from the workers group and scholars of the Special Program for Employment of Students of DOLE.

In a DOLE 6 press report, Director Ponciano Ligutom called anew for the support of the labor and management groups to this event.*PIA