SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a bill seeking the establishment of job placement offices in all public high schools to provide career services and employment opportunities for the youth.

Under Senate Bill No. 725, or the proposed Trabaho Center in Schools Act, Pangilinan said the measure supports the objectives of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which prepares senior high school students for either higher education or direct employment.

“With the K-12 program producing senior high school graduates ready to join the workforce, we must ensure that they are given proper guidance, skills training, and access to job opportunities. Trabaho Centers will serve as vital bridges between education and employment,” Pangilinan explained.

Each public high school will house a Trabaho Center tasked with maintaining updated databases of local and overseas job vacancies, forging linkages with employers and government employment service offices, conducting career advocacy and guidance activities, and providing training and seminars to enhance employability.

The centers will coordinate with Public Employment Service Offices and be supervised by Trabaho Center Coordinators from DepEd Division Offices. Career advocates will also be assigned to schools to directly assist students, administer the National Career Assessment Examination, and help interpret results for career planning.

The measure further encourages higher education institutions and technical-vocational schools to establish their own Trabaho Centers to strengthen graduates’ transition into the workforce.

Implementation will involve collaboration among DepEd, the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and local government units. Program funds will come from DepEd’s budget, with continuous allocation under the annual General Appropriations Act.

“This initiative is about giving our young people a fighting chance to succeed in life. By actively guiding and connecting them to the right opportunities, we help them become productive and empowered members of society,” Pangilinan said.