DOLE: Consultations with sectors vital in achieving PBBM labor agenda

MANILA: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has cited the importance of its consultations and strong cooperation with employers and workers in achieving the Marcos administration's labor agenda under its "Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Maayos at Matapat" thrust. Speaking at the Malacañang Insider episode on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said these mechanisms will enable the government to understand the problems confronting the labor sector and suggestions on how to resolve them. 'So, out of that consultation and discussion na ginawa natin noong tayo ay magsimula, kabahagi ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulong (which we conducted when we started as part of the administration of President) Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ay nakita natin na ang pangangailangan na magkaroon ng streamlining ng mga proseso, simplifications ng mga steps na ginagawa ng (we have seen the need to streamline process, simplify steps being undertaken by the) Department of Labor and Employment at (and the) decen tralization ng ilang mga gawain na dapat ay nandudoon na kaagad sa regional offices para maging mabilis ang daloy ng serbisyo (of some activities which should be observed in our regional offices to ensure fast flow of services),' the DOLE chief added. Likewise, he noted that the President is setting an example by listening to the views of the people to ensure that the government's program would fit their needs. The labor chief added that apart from providing quality jobs, the government is also sparing no effort in ensuring youth employability through various programs such as the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program and the 'JobStart' which looks into measures on honing students' skills for them to be ready for their future work. 'Bukod diyan, ito rin ay nakasaad din naman sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo, iyong binigyan ng direktiba hindi lamang ang DOLE, DepEd (Department of Education), CHED (Commission on Higher Education) at saka TESDA (Technical Education a nd Skills Development Authority) na maupo at magsama-sama, tingnan kung paano palalakasin ang Senior High School Curricula na kung saan ay puwedeng ipaloob iyong tinatawag natin na technical vocational education training. So, mayroon nang joint memorandum circular na naiprisinta sa ating Pangulo alinsunod sa kaniyang direktiba (Aside from that, the President has also directed the DOLE, DepEd, CHED and TESDA to sit down and work together. They would strategize how to enhance the Senior High School Curricula where the technical vocational training can be integrated. So, there is a memorandum circular which was already presented to the President, in compliance with his directive)," he added. Laguesma noted that they are also boosting information dissemination efforts to guide job applicants. He said the DOLE's PhilJobNet, an automated job and applicant matching system, fast-tracks the jobseekers' search and the employers' hunt for manpower. 'Sa mga mag-aaral naman ay iyong pagpapalakas ng aming career support development program para mabigyan sila ng paggabay, anong klase ng kurso, anong klase ng training ang dapat nilang palooban na tutugma doon sa mga available na job vacancies (For students, we enhance our career support development program to provide guidance on what kind of course, what kind of training should they get which will match available job vacancies)," Laguesma added. Republic Act 11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act, signed by Marcos in September last year, aims to address unemployment, underemployment, and other challenges in the labor market. The law will focus on improving the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives; and support micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders. The TPB provides a 10-year roadmap serving as the national guide toward greater employment generation and recovery. It is expected to help generate at least three million new jobs by 2028. Source: Philippines News agency