July 01, 2024 - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged the creation of at least 3 million new jobs by 2028 during the closing ceremony of the two-day National Employment Summit (NES) held in Manila on June 27.
The President announced the ambitious goal as part of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, a 10-year national roadmap for employment generation and economic recovery.
"The TPB Plan aligns with our development goals and will be a driving force in creating new jobs," said Marcos Jr. He mentioned the Philippine Development Plan, Labor and Employment Plan, Strategic Investment Priority Plan, and Workforce Development Plan as guiding documents for the TPB.
The NES served as the culmination of regional consultations aimed at identifying labor market challenges and crafting solutions. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) spearheaded the consultations in collaboration with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
A key outcome of the summit was the signing of a covenant by the TPB-Inter-Agency Council (IAC) led by NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, DOLE Secretary Benjamin Laguesma, and DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual. The covenant emphasizes an inter-agency and multipartite approach to achieving "productive, remunerative, and decent employment generation."
President Marcos, who signed the TPB Act (Republic Act No. 11962) in September 2023, also received a report on the multi-sectoral consultations that informed the TPB Plan's development.
The TPB Plan focuses on four key areas: aligning education and training programs with industry needs, expanding employability programs, reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses, and strengthening social protection mechanisms.