Two ranking lawmakers weighed in on the sets of economic data reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority, pointing to indicators of strong economic growth and more jobs generation.
House Agriculture and Food Committee chairman Representative Mark Enverga noted that with “the last quarter of every year being seasonally the most active and productive. I believe 6.5% gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter is doable.”
“Overall, the economy exceeded expectations and is even probably poised to grow by a little over 6% percent next quarter. I therefore ask the national agencies and local governments to harmonize well,” Enverga added, noting the agri sector’s quarter-to-quarter growth of 1.4%.
“Inflation dropped below 5% and employment in fishing and aquaculture improved by 193,000 people employed.”
The veteran legislator also noted that inflation dropped below 5% and employment in fishing and aquaculture improved by 193,000 people employed. A dampener was the seasonal third quarter downturn in farming and forestry jobs at 649,000 unemployed.
But a member of the House committee on labor and employment, Senior Citizen Party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes said more jobs can result from “synchronizing the implementation of existing job creation programs and projects” under the new Trabaho Para sa Bayan Law (RA 11964).
Ordanes also suggested to the Department of Labor and Employment that the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program “be converted into something like an Elevated Inflation Adjustment Measures Program.”
The veteran legislator said this approach will enable the national and local governments “to cushion the impact of elevated prices on consumers’ cash flows.”
“DOLE should also promote the employment of retirees and seniors who are still able to and want to work,” the seasoned lawmaker suggested.
He added that the synchronization of employment programs “should be timed so that the jobs impact will be felt during the off-seasons and peak seasons of the informal sector, the self-employed, the agriculture and fishing sectors, and the services sector.”
“For example, November to March is when several seasonal fishing bans take effect over different parts of the country. The fishing bans are necessary to allow the fish to reproduce and repopulate. During the fishing bans, there must be alternative or off-season jobs for the affected fisherfolk. TUPAD for the fisherfolk should be in full swing while the fishing bans are in effect,” Ordanes explained.
From November 15 to February 15, the annual fishing ban covering the Visayan Sea is Western Visayas will be enforced by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. From November 1 to January 31, the galunggong fishing ban in the sea around Palawan is in effect.
“December to May is the peak season for tourism and travel, so targeted job creation should be timed to maximize the peak season opportunities.”
He also noted that December to May is the peak season for tourism and travel, “so targeted job creation should be timed to maximize the peak season opportunities, while for the off-season months of June to September, the job creation should focus on those provinces and islands unaffected by monsoon rains and tropical storms.”
“To address youth unemployment, the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and the Summer Internship Program (SIP) should be synchronized for implementation from June to September when most students are on vacation,” Ordanes concluded.
