05/06/2026
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Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and Job Placement Office (JPO) managers, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) officials, focal persons, and regional representatives from across Central Visayas convened for the PESOMAP Central Visayas Regional PESO Congress held from June 3β4, 2026, at Marilou Resort in Panglao, Bohol.
Anchored on the theme βDriving Employment Forward,β the two-day regional gathering served as a vital platform for collaboration, strategic planning, and service enhancement aimed at strengthening employment facilitation and expanding opportunities for workers and jobseekers throughout Central Visayas.
A major highlight of the congress was the launch and strategic planning workshop for the 20,000 Quality Jobs Special Employment Facilitation Project, a landmark regional initiative designed to accelerate the creation and facilitation of quality employment opportunities across the region. Participants reviewed existing employment facilitation programs, assessed current labor market initiatives, and explored innovative strategies to enhance service delivery, ensuring that employment services remained responsive, efficient, and accessible to jobseekers.
The congress also reinforced partnerships between PESOs and the Department of Labor and Employment, fostering stronger collaboration in implementing livelihood and employment programs that support inclusive economic growth, workforce development, and sustainable community advancement.
Among those present during the event were Mr. Roy L. Buenafe, DOLE Regional Director; Mr. Vivencio Lagahid, Chief Labor and Employment Officer of the DOLE-Bohol Field Office; Ms. Joveline A. Requinto, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-BFO, Mr. Kim Francisco, Regional President of PESOMAP Central Visayas; and Ms. Maria Vilma C. Yorong, PGDH BEPO-PESO, Provincial PESO Manager/CTEC, and Vice President of PESOMAP Central Visayas.
The opening day featured the awarding and recognition of outstanding Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and Job Placement Officers (JPOs) for their exemplary contributions to employment generation, labor market facilitation, and public service excellence.
In his welcome message, Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado underscored Boholβs growing role in advancing employment facilitation and workforce development in Central Visayas. He emphasized the significance of the congress in pursuing the regionβs shared goal of generating 20,000 quality jobs and expanding access to employment opportunities for communities throughout the region.
Governor Aumentado noted that the initiative complemented Boholβs vision of becoming a smart, resilient, and inclusive province under its Strategic Governance Roadmap. He further highlighted the alignment of employment-focused programs with Boholβs broader development framework as a UNESCO Global Geopark and a Regenerative Island, where economic progress, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion are pursued in a balanced and sustainable manner.
The PESOMAP Central Visayas Regional PESO Congress directly contributed to the Strategic Change Agenda of the Provincial Government of Bohol by strengthening one of its core development pillarsβpeople-centered and inclusive economic growth. Specifically, the event advanced the provinceβs strategic objectives by expanding employment opportunities, promoting inclusive growth, enhancing workforce competitiveness, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration.
Through the successful hosting of the Regional PESO Congress, Bohol not only showcased its best practices in employment facilitation but also reaffirmed its leadership role in driving workforce development, economic inclusion, and sustainable growth across Central Visayas.
The congress concluded with renewed commitments from participating PESOs, partner agencies, and stakeholders to work collectively toward creating more quality employment opportunities and fostering a more inclusive and dynamic regional labor market.
