Sulu is currently undergoing a transition away from the BARMM. It remains underdeveloped and isolated, with only one airline servicing the island province. Image Source: SuluOnlineLibrary

The event, organized by the Jolo Municipal Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE)-Sulu and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region IX, brought together a mix of local, national, and overseas recruiters—offering rare formal employment opportunities in a province that continues to face deep development challenges.

Applicants engaged with representatives from private firms, government offices, and international employment agencies. Over 50 were hired on the spot, while others were shortlisted for further assessments, offering immediate economic relief for a number of families and hinting at longer-term prospects for those still awaiting placement.

Inter-Region Cooperation and the Future of Sulu

More than a job-matching event, the fair served as a symbol of cross-regional coordination at a time of administrative transition for Sulu. Following a Supreme Court decision and a subsequent executive order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sulu has been reassigned to Region IX for administrative purposes. While this has raised concerns about continuity of services, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has maintained an emphatic involvement, most recently through support for medical deliveries and airport transition efforts. Its continued presence in this job fair underscores the need for stable intergovernmental collaboration moving forward.

The urgency is not abstract. Sulu remains one of the most economically vulnerable provinces in the country, ranked third in a 2021 report by the Pacific Disaster Center. Basic infrastructure, access to services, and investment flows remain limited.

Sulu was ranked the 3rd most economically vulnerable province in the Philippines.

Paradoxically, the province also reported the lowest unemployment rate nationwide as of 2024—just 0.4 percent. Analysts have suggested this may reflect the nature of informal or subsistence work more than widespread job security. Even so, the figure points to the resilience of a local population finding ways to cope within constrained options and also the potential of Sulu with adequate focus on the region.

The province also reported the lowest unemployment rate nationwide as of 2024—just 0.4 percent

For many Tausugs, overseas employment has long been part of the economic landscape. Historical patterns of migration, especially to neighboring Sabah where there are as many as 500,000 Tausug diaspora, continue to shape household economies. National data shows that around 70 percent of overseas Filipino workers send remittances back to families—a crucial financial bridge in places like Sulu. Yet despite the presence of international recruiters at the fair, organizers noted that most applicants sought local positions, signaling a preference to remain close to home if viable options exist.

A preference for local employment at the job fair indicates Tausugs remain focused on regional development and opportunities at home.

That preference presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While Sulu’s economy remains dominated by agriculture and fisheries, efforts are underway to broaden its base. Tourism is increasingly being viewed as a growth sector, tied to parallel initiatives focused on stabilizing the security situation.

Addressing threats from armed groups like Abu Sayyaf and curbing piracy remain prerequisites that demand the attention of not only the island province’s community leaders, but also resources from Manila. Recent successes in conflict resolution among Sulu families and the successful killing of a top Abu Sayyaf operative on August 16th demonstrates the potential progress when Sulu receives the attention it deserves.

REFERENCES

Bangsamoro Information Office. (2025, September 1).

MOLE-Sulu, Jolo LGU link over 2K job seekers with employers thru job fair. Bangsamoro Government.

https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/

Garcia, T. Jr. (2022, October 8).

Sulu tourism potentials highlighted in new campaign. Philippine News Agency.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/

Pacific Disaster Center. (2021).

Sulu: Provincial risk profile. Pacific Disaster Center.

https://dev.pdc.org/