Japanese firm, Hanjin Heavy Industries Co.-Philippines has coordinated with the provincial government, through the Bohol Employment and Placement Office (BEMO), in recruiting Boholano workers for its eyed shipbuilding project in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, in Zambales province. Through the municipal PESO managers, Hanjin intends to make their offer of employment known to maximum pool of skilled workers in the 47 towns of Bohol as the company needs an initial 8,000 skilled workers for the 2008 operation and 20,000 direct employees by the time the project reaches the peak operation. Hanjin now needs welders, electricians, plumbers, crane/lift operators, engineering staff (electrical, mechanical and marine) and administrative staff for its human resources, warehouse management, procurement and data encoding departments.

After having initially conducted recruitment activities in the Luzon area, the company now wants to focus recruitment from the Visayas, including Bohol which the provincial government considers a welcome development in consonance with “our vigorous poverty reduction initiatives,” according to BEPO Chief Romulo Tagaan in his notice to all municipal mayors dated October 15, 2007. Tagaan requested every municipality to conduct a skills registration of prospective job applicants for the project, through its PESO office. BEPO will then consolidate the listing by middle of November. A team from Hanjin will be in Tagbilaran City to conduct some screening routine as sufficient number of applicants shall be available by then. Tagaan advises interested individuals to contact BEPO through telephone numbers (038) 411-3544 or (038) 501-9847 for more details or visit its office at the Capitol Building along CPG Avenue .

Meanwhile, BEPO announces the activities in line for the remaining months this year which include the recruitment for call center representatives for Advanced Contact Solutions Call Center Co. to be conducted on October 25-26 at BEPO, Mobile Services for PRC, NSO, LTFRB, SSS, and PhilHealth on November 9 also at BEPO, DFA Mobile Passport Service on November 10 at the ICM Activity Center in Dao District, Tagbilaran City, and the Local and Overseas Jobs Fair on December 1 also at the ICM Activity Center. (Aida Tanghal and Angeline Valencia/PGMA)