04/05/2026
READ | 1,200 LGUs PUSH JOBS TO COMMUNITIES VIA PESO
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) lauded and commended 1,200 local government units (LGUs) for establishing Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), bringing job opportunities closer to communities nationwide.
For many Filipinos, looking for work is not easy. It takes time, money, and often a bit of luck. In many places, opportunities feel far away. PESOs help change that.
The DILG said the growing number of PESOs shows how local governments are stepping in to make employment services easier to access. Instead of people going far just to apply or ask, services are now within reach of their own communities.
Through PESOs, jobseekers are guided, connected to employers, and given real options. For families, that means a steadier income. For communities, it means more people moving forward.
The Department called on remaining LGUs to establish their own PESOs to further strengthen local job facilitation and make job matching faster and more direct.
The initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to focus on long-term employment strategies that create real and lasting opportunities.
PESOs are non-fee charging, multi-dimensional employment service facilities established by LGUs in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). They provide job matching, labor market information, and access to employment programs, ensuring that services reach even the grassroots level.
Latest data show that 799 LGUs, or 46.59 percent, have institutionalized PESOs through local ordinances, including 60 provinces, 116 cities, and 623 municipalities. Another 401 LGUs have established PESOs through executive orders, covering 12 provinces, 13 cities, and 376 municipalities.
Across the country, PESOs are already making a difference.
In Iloilo City, the PESO has earned Hall of Fame recognition at the National PESO Congress after winning the highly urbanized city category for three consecutive years. It facilitates employment for at least 30,000 individuals annually, with a 94 percent success rate.
The Province of Antique was likewise recognized as National Best PESO under the Second-Class Province Category, reflecting consistent and effective employment services.
Makati Cityโs PESO has also been recognized for its IT-based skills registry system, which helps match jobseekers with the right opportunities and address skills gaps.
These are not just programs on paper. These are real people finding work, one opportunity at a time.
