MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has emphasized the critical role of consultations with employers and workers in advancing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s labor agenda, articulated under the administration's "Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Maayos at Matapat" initiative.
According to Philippines News Agency, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma during his appearance on the "Malacañang Insider" episode on Wednesday, these consultations are essential for the government to grasp the issues facing the labor sector and to explore solutions. Laguesma highlighted the need for procedural streamlining and decentralization within DOLE to expedite service delivery. "So, out of that consultation and discussion na ginawa natin noong tayo ay magsimula, kabahagi ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ay nakita natin na ang pangangailangan na magkaroon ng streamlining ng mga proseso, simplifications ng mga steps na ginagawa ng Department of Labor and Employment at decentralization ng ilang mga gawain na dapat ay nandudoon na kaagad sa regional offices para maging mabilis ang daloy ng serbisyo," he said.
Laguesma also noted that President Marcos is leading by example, ensuring that government programs are tailored to meet the public's needs by actively listening to their input. The administration is committed not only to creating quality jobs but also to enhancing youth employability through various initiatives. These include the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program, and the 'JobStart' program, which focus on honing students' skills for future employment.
Additionally, DOLE is working to enhance the Senior High School Curricula by integrating technical vocational education training, a directive from President Marcos involving collaboration among DOLE, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. "Bukod diyan, ito rin ay nakasaad din naman sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo, iyong binigyan ng direktiba hindi lamang ang DOLE, DepEd, CHED at saka TESDA 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," Laguesma explained.
The labor secretary also emphasized improvements in information dissemination to better guide job applicants and the role of PhilJobNet in facilitating faster job matches for both jobseekers and employers.
Lastly, Laguesma referenced the recently signed Republic Act 11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act, which provides a 10-year roadmap aimed at addressing labor market challenges and supporting the upskilling of Filipino workers. The law is projected to help generate at least three million new jobs by 2028, bolstering the competitiveness of Filipino labor in both domestic and global markets.