THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday expanded its recently launched Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) amid economic pressures in the country due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the nationwide rollout will help cushion the impact of rising fuel and commodity prices on Filipino families.

“Sa panahon na nararamdaman ng maraming pamilya ang epekto ng krisis sa ekonomiya at pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, mahalaga na inilalapit ng pamahalaan ang mga serbisyo at oportunidad sa ating mga kabataan (In times that many families are experiencing the effects of economic crisis and rising prices of goods, it’s important to bring government services and opportunities closer to the youth),” he said.

The DepEd, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), seeks to roll out the BPSF in two schools in every region to boost the employability of graduates of Senior High School (SHS) and Alternative Learning System (ALS) in public schools.

Angara led the launching of the expanded BPSF at the Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City, with more than 20 private companies offering job opportunities.

The BPSF also provided government services for SHS and ALS graduates for their pre-employment requirements, including police clearance, National Bureau of Investigation clearance and PhilHealth registration, among others.

Based on the DepEd’s report, 1,428 graduates have availed of the free government clearances and other employment-related services, while 300 learners were hired on the spot in select pilot areas.

These were recorded in nine schools across Metro Manila, Sorsogon, Talisay City in Cebu and Panabo City in Davao del Norte. (PNA)