President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the government’s efforts to generate quality employment is still a work in progress as his administration continues to make the country business-friendly.
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In an interview with reporters after the graduation ceremony of the Philippine Army Officer Candidate Course “Gaigmat” Class 58-2023 in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City last Friday, Marcos said it will still take some time before the government’s job creation efforts yield results.
He noted the said initiatives includes mainstreaming digitalization in the government to ensure ease of doing business as well as training and upskilling the country’s workforce.
“That is why we still need to have economic activity to generate more jobs for our citizens since this will not happen immediately,” Marcos said in Filipino.
The President made the pronouncement when asked about the improvement in the country’s labor indicators, which were reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
State statisticians reported the number of unemployed last May dropped to 2.17 million from 2.93 million year on year.
During the said period, employment rate also rose to 95.7 percent from 94 percent in the same month in 2022.
Underemployment rate also slowed down 11.7 percent last May from 14.5 percent year on year.
Marcos lauded the latest figures, which he said, the government will continue to strive to improve.
“Our priority is really jobs, that is why everything we do in the economy is to give [Filipinos] not only jobs, which will make them underemployed, but those of quality and where they will have a future [career] and benefits,” Marcos said.
Among the 20 priority legislation, which the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) is eyeing to pass this year, is the National Employment Action Plan law.
