University of Batangas Job Placement Office (UB JPO) under the leadership of Mrs. Anna Louisa L. Cauntay was awarded as the Regional Bayanihan Service Awardee for Educational Institution Category. The award recognized the essential contribution of UB JPO who exemplify successful innovations, perseverance, and intentional humanitarian service to the community for the displaced and vulnerable workers to cope with the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Service to Fellowmen is one of UB’s core values that is heavily ingrained in the hearts and minds of all Brahmans. Since January 2020, Batangueños have faced numerous challenges. As soon as community quarantine was implemented in March, we immediately shifted gears for the continuous delivery of services online”, shared Mrs. Anna Louisa L. Cauntay, UB JPO Manager.
Mrs. Cauntay described how the office, through her committed staff, implemented innovation, resilience, and humanitarian assistance to improve the lives of those afflicted by the pandemic’s impacts. The Online Employment Toolkit included Anti-Illegal Recruitment, Labor Education, Resume Writing, Interview Techniques, Labor Market Information, Work Ethics, Philjobnet, and Pre-Employment Orientation recommendations and reading materials were given to graduating students via UB email, the virtual conduct of Local Recruitment Activity and a Job Fair through collaborations with local businesses and the assistance of the University’s IT Department and the implementation of a virtual livelihood program “Basahan para sa Kinabukasan” on December 14, 2020, which taught women how to manufacture rags out of discarded and old garments, resulting in the group earning at least Php 9,700.00, showed the office’s efforts to embrace innovation. Every summer, the office conducts an annual survey to determine the job situation of graduates, a testament of the office’s commitment towards resiliency. Those who lost their employment as a result of the pandemic were included in the 2020 survey results. These graduates were asked to submit an updated resume and were connected to recognized firms with job openings that matched their skills. Other placement services conducted online were employment coaching, career guidance, career advising and SPES. Finally, humanitarian services were part of the office’s mission. The UB Job Placement Office believed that it could do more by assisting its fellow citizens in different ways. It cooperated with other university departments and other groups to broaden its reach and have a major effect while maintaining the quality of its primary tasks. Among its humanitarian efforts are the Donation Drive for PPE for Medical frontliners, Brahman Athletes Balik Probinsya Program, Donation Drive for Typhoon Rolly victims, and Tanglaw Bravo, UBnited: UB as One Project.
Mrs. Cauntay assures to continuously be proactive in responding to the people’s needs. The JPO Manager was also extremely thankful for the honor, and she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the administration and all employees who assisted them in successfully bringing forth the actual worth and function of UB Job Placement Office.