CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines—In a bid to strengthen local workforce development and provide new employment opportunities for Samarnons, the Province of Samar and Samar State University (SSU) have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on October 3, 2025, establishing the JobsNext Hub in the Samar Province.
The agreement was entered into by Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan, representing the Province of Samar, and University President Dr. Redentor S. Palencia, representing SSU. The initiative forms part of the provincial government’s Jobs Next Program, an ordinance-driven employment and skills development framework (Ordinance No. 17-356-22) that seeks to institutionalize innovative, competency-based training systems in Samar.
Under the MOA, the JobsNext Hub at SSU will serve as a dedicated center for workforce innovation, technical skills enhancement, and employment facilitation. The University will also function as a satellite office of the Samar Public Employment Service Office (PESO), enabling job recruitment, career guidance, and counseling for job seekers.
In the agreement, SSU commits to provide a suitable venue for the hub, cover essential utilities, and support the management and operational needs of the center. Meanwhile, the Province of Samar pledges to equip the hub with 30 computers and internet connectivity, offer free trainings under the Jobs Next Program and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and extend related logistical support for its activities.
The collaboration underscores both institutions’ shared vision of fostering innovation, competitiveness, and professional growth among Samar’s workforce—bridging education and industry needs to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving job market.
Through this partnership, the JobsNext Hub is envisioned to serve as an advocacy pipeline for the provincial government’s employment agenda: promoting sustained learning, reskilling, and digital readiness for a more empowered and future-ready Samar.