The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), through its Public and Employment Service Office (PESO), was recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment for its invaluable contribution and employment facilitation efforts in the Cagayan Valley Region, in response to the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. This recognition was formally awarded by DOLE to CEZA, through its PESO Manager and Senior Manpower Development Officer Reynold R. Alibania and his team, James T. Matalang and Christian P. Bautista, on October 25, 2022 during the 22nd National PESO Congress at SMX Convention Center, Clark, Pampanga.

CEZA was chosen by DOLE Regional Office No. 2 as a nominee to the Bayanihan Award for Job Placement category. The Bayanihan Award recognizes the exemplary performance of PESOs in their delivery of services. Noting the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the economy, with great regard to increased unemployment rate, the Award has been modified in 2020 to acknowledge the PESOs that had exceptional contributions to employment generation through resilience, innovation and humanitarian service amid the limitations and restrictions brought by the pandemic.

Nomination under the Job Placement Category recognizes the highest employment statistics catered in a year by recruitment process, job matching, job placement, and various programs for the Youth Employability like Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) through the facilitation of PESO. The nomination was based on their performance from January to December 2021.

CEZA’s statistics on employment generation has stayed strong even amid the pandemic. Significantly, this Authority has remained steadfast in its commitment to generate investment and employment through the years, as evidenced by its continued efforts to implement programs, projects and activities for these purposes. It has also been actively participating and working with its locators, other agencies and schools in the conduct of Special Recruitment Activities (SRAs) to offer more job opportunities to the residents in the municipality of Santa Ana.

PESO Ilagan City, Isabela and PESO Sanchez Mira, Cagayan received the Independent/Component City category and Choice of the Press awards, respectively. Also nominated for the Bayanihan Award in the Region were PESO San Mariano, Isabela for 1st-2nd Class Municipality category and PESO Sanchez Mira, Cagayan for 3rd-4th Class Municipality category.

PESO is a non-fee charging multi-employment service entity established in Coordination with DOLE through R.A. No. 8759 or the PESO Act of 1999, as amended by R.A. 10691 in 2015. #SaCEZAKabahagiKa