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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
February 16, 2025 | 12:00am
I’M JUST A VERY INTERESTED OBSERVER: President Marcos said he advised his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, to support the impeachment process, but that he himself is merely an observer.
RYAN BALDEMOR
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos brought on Saturday the government’s Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas – a job-matching initiative for graduating beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) – to Mindanao.
Over 28 employers participated in the job fair held at the New City Hall in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
The job fair – led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – is intended for 4Ps beneficiaries to assist them in finding stable jobs to become self-sufficient.
In his remarks, Marcos vowed to bring the program to different parts of the country as part of his administration’s efforts to uplift the lives of every Filipino.
“I will do everything to spread this program throughout the country. I wish you all success. Coupled with this is my plea that hopefully you take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you” the President said.
“This is in fulfillment of our mandate and our promise to raise the standard of living of every Filipino family, especially our beneficiaries of the 4Ps and also of TUPAD,” Marcos said, referring to DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers.
Marcos said the government also continues to enhance the delivery of services to help Filipinos find jobs and achieve their dreams.
He said the Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas is more than just providing work but it is also about “matching” the skills of applicants.
“We match the skills of the seekers, of the applicants, to the job where he is suitable, to the kind of work he can do,” the Chief Executive said.
The DSWD targeted around 3,000 job seekers to be hired at the Tagum City job fair, mostly beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and TUPAD program.
Other government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Social Security System and the National Bureau of Investigation also provided pre-employment documentation and advisory services, according to the President.
Marcos said when the Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas was launched in January, over a thousand of around 9,000 job applicants were hired on the spot.
Prior to delivering his message, Marcos toured booths and interacted with around 38 participating sellers and buyers at the Department of Agriculture-led Kadiwa ng Pangulo.
The country’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest in December last year, according to the PSA.
The PSA’s Labor Force Survey showed that the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 3.1 percent in December last year from 3.2 percent in November, bringing the full-year average to 3.8 percent, the lowest since 2005.
This translates to 1.63 million jobless Filipinos in December 2024, down from 1.66 million in the previous month, but higher than the 1.60 million in December 2023.
