Where are the jobs?

While much of President Duterte's focus has been on the anti-drug campaign, the public expects that his other campaign promises will be attended to also. Foremost is his promise to provide jobs not only for the tens of thousands unemployed but also to those now working abroad, some in dire working conditions and whose families suffer from the absence of a concerned father or a caring mother.

If we look at the latest SWS survey, not only is the promise unfulfilled but the number of unemployed has increased. The survey shows that about 11.2 million adults remained jobless in the last quarter of 2016, the worst in two years. Of these, 5.5 million voluntarily left their jobs, 3.9 million lost their jobs because of economic circumstances, 1.9 million were first time job seekers. This was 25.1 percent of the respondents compared to 18.4 percent or 8.2 million jobless Filipinos in September.

We may consider this trend increasing due to the massacre of the mining industry and the perceived anti-American and anti-European stance of President Duterte. The move of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez to close the mining companies contrary to the findings and recommendations of professionals in the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences but consistent with her deep personal bias against the mining industry is leaving tens of thousands in mining and ancillary industries with no livelihood. We hear of alternative jobs and income but we are not aware of any programs that the government has already started that is alleviating the plight of these workers. If they do we will see government funding coming in when the private sector was previously spending for this without depleting the government coffers. These government funds could have been spent on other social programs.

I was in a meeting when representative of some industry sectors dependent on the US and European markets expressed not only their concern on the effect of the President's rhetoric but also their actual experience of such effects. A company suffered the loss of a substantial order necessitating a reduction in the workforce; and other companies were putting on hold expansion plans as well as updating contingency plans to relocate to either Thailand or Vietnam. The unemployment situation will worsen when the Trump directives on deportation are fully implemented. Obama focused on those with criminal records while Trump is expanding its coverage to even those with driving violations. Eventually Trump's sweep will cover all Filipino TNTs who will be forced to go back to the Philippines. Hopefully those who have saved enough will start new businesses but I believe more will be competing for the few jobs available.

The administration's expectation of a massive inflow of investments from China with the attendant creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs seems not to be happening. Even if the investments come in, it will take some time for these enterprises to hire workers and staff. The Chinese perception that the Philippines is inconsistent in their stance (DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay remarks were corrected by President Duterte) could also affect the volume and timing of these Chinese investments.

To make sure that his campaign promise of more jobs is made good, President Duterte should consider having a DENR secretary who will see the total picture and act in the interest of all Filipinos and not be captive to one's mistaken beliefs. The President should not leave the investment promotion campaign to the DTI and DOF secretaries but should lead his team in assuring investors of a conducive climate for business. Then the jobs will be there. melito.jr@gmail.com