Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has experienced unswerving economic shock, severe disruption and changes in the labor market. Persistent and widespread impact on several businesses and livelihoods of people led the government to adapt to the fast-changing digitalization and ramp up its initiatives and schemes towards the recovery of the economic and employment landscape, especially now that several industries are gradually reopening their businesses.
Grounded on the premise of upholding its mandate, the Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR), in coordination with the City Government of Pasay’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), conducted a week-long career guidance virtual sessions on entrepreneurship for Grade 12 students of seven (7) schools in Pasay City from December 6 to 13, 2021. Said activities were also live streamed via Facebook Page of said schools.
Said schools were Kalayaan National High School last December 6, 2021 with 150 participants; PC West High School and PC North High School-MDS on December 7, 2021 with 150 and 85 participants, respectively; PC South High School and PC Corazon Aquino National High School on December 9, 2021 with 1,658 and 253 participants, respectively; PC East High School and Philippine School for the Deaf on December 10, 2021 with 124 and 164 participants, respectively; and PC National Science High School and PC North High School on December 13, 2021 with 150 and 101 participants, respectively.
DOLE-NCR Senior Labor and Employment Officer Ryan Roberto E. Delos Reyes and Labor and Employment Officers Mary Chelsea A. Espinosa and Ma. Allen Rose T. Carreon served as the resource speakers during said activities. Participants were briefed on the standing of NCR, particularly how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape the economy and the labor market. They further explained the importance of introducing entrepreneurship as part of the significant area of choice of students along with wage employment. They emphasized that as the pandemic restriction eases, the labor market presents a lot of opportunity; hence a need to reintroduce entrepreneurship. As what Delos Reyes said during said learning sessions: “In every chaos, there is an opportunity. We are living in a chaotic country and that is the very reason why entrepreneurship should be reintroduced in our Career Guidance Advocacy Program.”
To give the students a clearer picture, the DOLE-NCR representatives stressed the difference between wage employment and entrepreneurship; merits and demerits of venturing into business; characteristics of an entrepreneur; reasons and factors to consider before venturing into business; and kinds businesses to undertake.
Said resource speakers also discussed “digital entrepreneurship” and explained the impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe). They also emphasized how it continuously influences industries to transform their traditional way of doing business by maximizing the power of digital technology.
To cap off said activities, the speakers and students engaged in productive exchanges of ideas. The students also expressed their gratitude to DOLE-NCR for sharing their expertise and knowledge.
Said activity is part of DOLE-NCR’s advocacy efforts for the youth to help address the changing needs of the labor market through dissemination of relevant Labor Market Information through its Career Guidance and Advocacy Program.
