Tañada urges gov’t to invest in job creation

Former Deputy House speaker Erin Tañada said the government should invest in job creation so it can provide jobs to those who are “able” and “willing.”

Tañada issued the statement after a recent survey showed that there are 9.8 million jobless Filipino adults.

READ: Jobless adult Filipinos reach 9.8 million in Q3 of 2018

“Everyone who can and is willing to work should have a job. If we look around us, there is so much work to be done: Ensure food for every Filipino, a home for every family, clothes, and shoes for everyone,” he said in a statement.

“Someone to look after young children, to teach the youth, to care for the sick; ensure clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing; clean air; electricity, Internet, transportation; and so much more,” he added.

Tañada urged the government to invest in these basic rights to provide a better life for Filipinos.

“All these things need work and workers. That’s why the government needs to invest in these rights because the government has the duty to provide for them as well as the opportunity to realize them,” he said.

He also called on the government to work in providing Filipinos with a decent income that would suffice for the needs of their families.

“Sa abroad, favorite ng mga employers ang mga OFW, kasi masipag, madiskarte, makusa. Kailangan nating i-replicate ang ipinupunta nila sa abroad dito sa Pilipinas: sweldong nakakapamuhay nang disente ang pamilya,” he added.

(OFWs are the favorite of employers abroad because they are industrious and often has initiative. We need to replicate the conditions that allow them to thrive in other countries. In the Philippines, they should be able to earn a decent wage to support their families.) /ee