The Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure program may fall short of its employment target this year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
In a news statement issued on Monday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the BBB will create approximately 820,000 jobs this year, which is below government expectations that the massive infrastructure push will create 1.1 million jobs annually until 2022.
“Apart from closing the country’s infrastructure gap, our aim is to create many employment opportunities and assist Filipino families in achieving the kind of life that they desire,” Pernia said.
In order to boost jobs created in infrastructure, Pernia said there is a need for the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to coordinate with industries.
This will boost the government and the private sector’s chances of appropriate skills needed by the construction sector in the next few years.
Pernia said labor demand can be met if education programs like the K to 12, which adds two years to basic education in the country, will produce a better trained and skilled work force.
“To fully maximize gains from Build, Build, Build [program], the Philippine labor market should be ready to meet the infrastructure program’s requirements. Bodies governing the education and labor sectors have a crucial role in this,” Pernia said.
Based on the DepEd, K to 12 students are required to undergo work immersion to enhance their industry skills and work ethics.
This is provided for in the DepEd’s guidelines for Work Immersion, DepEd Order 30, Series of 2017 (DO 30, s. 2017).
The said DepEd order states that a senior high-school student, who is 18 years old and above, has to complete a minimum of 80 hours of work immersion, while those below18 must complete a maximum of 40 hours per week.
Similarly, Pernia stated that attention should also be given to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are skilled or need retraining to be absorbed in the construction industry.
The Neda, likewise, proposed that all job requirements of the BBB program be posted on www.PhilJobsNet.gov.ph, the Philippine government’s official online job site, so that returning OFWs are kept abreast of new opportunities in the country.
“The K to 12 program requires a strong academe-industry linkage to prepare students after graduation. [The] Build, Build, Build [program] presents real opportunities for those in search of work,” Pernia added.
Projects like the Metro Manila Subway Project, Philippine National Railway (PNR) North 2 (Malolos-Clark Airport-Clark Green City Rail), Subic-Clark Railway Project and the Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects are expected to break ground this year.
Other planned projects to be set for 2019 to 2025 include the New Cebu International Container Port, North and South Harbor Bridge (Pasig), the JP Rizal-St. Mary Bridge (Marikina), PNR South Long-haul (Manila-Bicol), PNR South Commuter Line (Tutuban-Los Baños), and the Davao International Airport Development Project.