OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales, Philippines — The Olongapo City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) has been adjudged the “Best PESO in a Highly Urbanized City” in Central Luzon.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) recognition was given to the Olongapo City PESO at the documentation and presentation of the region-wide 2011 PESO Year-End Performance Assessment (YEPA) held at Clark Freeport in Pampanga last January 26.

The DoLE and Region III PESO Managers Federation, Inc. (RPMFI) decided to give the recognition to the Olongapo City PESO after two-day YEPA evaluated last year’s PESO accomplishments in the region.

RPMFI President Elizabeth Alonzo said the search for the Best PESO is an annual activity at YEPA that recognizes the significant contributions and outstanding accomplishments of the PESO in the deployment of DoLE-initiated employment facilitation programs and in the provision of employment services, such as job placements, career guidance and employment counseling services to clients.

The Best PESO search covered all existing and operational PESOs in the region as confirmed by DoLE such as LGUs, NGOs and school-based PESO.

According to the latest available report from the city’s Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS), 97.83% of Olongapo’s labor force is employed and the unemployed constitute only 2.17%.

“It is not just about winning but it’s all about meeting the parameters of the competition. Walking an extra mile for the Olongapo City’s HELPS Program of Grassroots Empowerment through employment is our mission,” said Atty. Batch Perez, PESO Chief Consultant.