Gatchalian seeks more jobs in recovery

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the government to devise ways of providing employment opportunities to millions of Filipinos, many of whom have lost their jobs with the imposition of strict quarantine regulations and pursue retooling programs to prepare them for the job market of the new normal.

“Trabaho, hindi lang basta ayuda, ang dapat ipursige ng pamahalaan para masiguro na maitatawid ng marami nating kababayan ang mga arawang pangangailangan ng pang matagalan (Jobs, not only relief assistance, that the government must provide in ensuring that our countrymen can sustain their daily needs for long-term),” Gatchalian said.

In the short and medium term, the hiring of additional 6,000 contact tracers for the National Capital Region will help the people out of work fill in the slots, according to the senator, adding that infrastructure projects planned this year could generate 1.7 million jobs and an additional employment of 1.5 million for next year.

Gatchalian said a retooling program is also needed to help the displaced workers acquire new skills and prepare them for the emerging sectors in the post-pandemic setting as training programs can help boost government expenditure and increase the country’s gross domestic product.

“Many still lack digital skills. We have to provide new skills for low-skilled workers that could help businesses stay competitive,” Gatchalian said.

The senator added that the enactment of the Government

Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery or Guide Bill will expand the loan programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the primary employers of the country, with a lower cost of borrowings and simplified process of securing a loan.

This will help address the cash flow issues faced by the majority of MSMEs, the reason behind the retrenchment of many workers, the senator said.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL