Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said upskilling of workers must be industry-led and demand- and market-driven so that workers can find employment that suits their skills.
He said jobs mismatch can be resolved by conducting job fairs, which are aware of the requirements of every industry to get the workers fit for the job.
“Tinitingnan natin na dapat magkaroon tayo ng epektibo na labor information system, ikukumpara natin ‘yan sa iba-ibang mga rehiyon kung nasaan ‘yung mga available nang sa gayon ay makatulong tayo din pag may mga naghahanap ng ideal na lugar kung saan sila mag-i-invest,” Laguesma said in a television interview.
(We should have an effective labor information system. We will compare that with the different regions so that we can also help those who are looking for an ideal place to invest.)
“Bukod diyan kailangan din nating palakasin ‘yung sistema ng ating digitalization ng mga available na mga jobs nang sa ganun mayroong pagkakataon na makapamili ‘yung ating mga manggagawa kung saan nila gustong magtrabaho, anong klase ng trabaho,” he added.
(We also need to strengthen the digitalization of available jobs so that our workers have the opportunity to choose where they want to work and what kind of work.)
For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is continuously following up the investment pledges secured by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his trips abroad since he took office in 2022.
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said Marcos ordered them to ensure that these investment pledges, which totaled to around P3.48 trillion or approximately $62.926 billion, will materialize.
The DTI said $4.349 billion or P239 billion worth of investment projects are now undergoing implementation stage; $29.712 billion or P1.7 trillion are in the form of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and Letters of Intent (LOI); and a total of $28.863 billion or P1.5 trillion worth of pledges are now in the planning stages.
Pascual said the National Government would also ensure that international investors would be experiencing ease in doing business in the country.
“Ang gagawin natin ay sisiguraduhin natin na ‘yung enabling environment ay maayos ‘yung mga kailangang magawa ng mabilis [tulad ng] pagkuha ng permit, pagkuha ng mga lisensya ay mapabilis. Dahil yang mga ganyan kapag may delay dyan naka turn off ‘yung mga investor natin so kailangan natin yang maayos,” he said.
(What we will do is we will make sure that the enabling environment is in order and those that need to be done quickly [such as] obtaining permits, obtaining licenses will be expedited.)
“Mas lalo na dun sa time na iniimplemento na yung mga produkto sa construction, dapat walang delay ano. Pagpapasok dito ng mga imported equipment, kailangang mabilis din na mapapalabas ating pier ng Bureau of Customs,” he added.
(Especially at the time when the construction products are being implemented, there should be no delay. Entry of imported equipment must also be quickly released from our pier by the Bureau of Customs.)
As of February 9, 2023, the DTI-Board of Investments has approved around P414.3 billion total investment projects.
Meanwhile, Department of Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the Marcos administration will also ensure that the Philippines has a cheap and stable energy supply that could sustain manufacturing industries with the expected influx of foreign investors.
Fuentebella said the DOE targets to have 35 percent of the country’s supply coming from renewable energy sources (RE) by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040.
He said the plan to shift to RE came in the light of “very high” fuel prices that add burden to power generating plants and subsequently to the consumers.
Fuentebella expressed confidence that the country’s offshore potential is ideal and can sustain its future energy demand.
Part of the government’s initiative to lower electricity prices is diversification of energy sourcing, as well as educating the public on saving energy so that the country can address other issues such as inflation, environmental degradation, high electricity prices and its competitiveness with other nations. (SunStar Philippines)