PESO-Kalinga shares employment practices with Mountain Province after national recognition

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Kalinga shared its employment programs and practices with officials from Mountain Province during a benchmarking visit at the Kalinga Provincial Capitol on October 22, following its recent national recognition.

PESO-Kalinga Manager-designate Ermilinda P. Wandag presented the office’s programs and accomplishments, including its efforts to connect jobseekers with employment opportunities through regular job referrals, the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), the Government Internship Program (GIP), and the Work for a Home Program (WHIP).

The office reported 13,573 vacancies solicited under regular employment, 353 under SPES, 15 under GIP, and 1,714 under WHIP.

The presentation was followed by discussions and an exchange of experiences on employment services and coordination with employers and government partners.

The benchmarking activity came after PESO-Kalinga received a Plaque of Recognition during the 26th National PESO Congress in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on October 14. The office was nominated for the 2025 National Search for Best PESO Awards under the 3rd–5th Class Province category.

In a message delivered by Provincial Legal Officer Atty. John Paul Baguiwan, Governor James S. Edduba thanked the Mountain Province delegation for its interest in Kalinga’s employment practices and reaffirmed the provincial government’s support for PESO initiatives.

“Being considered a standard of practice is not simply an achievement to celebrate. It is a responsibility to continuously improve. We are honored to share our experiences with Mountain Province, and we are equally eager to learn from your own practices and accomplishments,” Edduba said.

The Mountain Province delegation included officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Mountain Province Field Office, PESO managers and staff from several municipalities, and representatives of Mountain Province State University.

Supervising Labor and Employment Officer Rachel Maling facilitated the activity.