Robredo’s labor agenda seeks to help local industries, MSMEs

Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo during a press conference on Monday, November 8, 2021. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has presented her five-point labor agenda that will be prioritized if she is elected president in 2022, centering on providing assistance to the country’s industries, helping small businesses, while ending job discrimination.

During a presentation on Friday, Robredo said that her “Hanapbuhay para sa Lahat” plan (Jobs and Livelihood for Everyone) starts off by seeking to make the public trust the government again, which means ending corruption and even cronyism, or the practice of having allies take over big businesses.

“Una sa lahat: Ibalik ang tiwala sa gobyerno.  Ititigil natin ang korupsyon, ang cronyism, at pang-aabuso sa sistema. Bubuwagin natin ang mga sindikatong ginawa nang negosyo ang gobyerno. Gagawin nating patas ang merkado at sisiguruhing may isang salita ang pamahalaan,” she said.

(First of all, bring back public trust in government. We will stop corruption, cronyism, and abuse of the system. We would destroy the syndicates who have made a business out of government. We would make the government fair, and true to its word.)

“Sisiguruhin natin na may malinaw na istratehiya para maging mas competitive ang Pilipinas, at ipatutupad ito. Nariyan ang Philippine Competition Commission—lalo pang palalakasin natin ito para magawa ang kanyang trabaho na puksain ang monopolyo at unfair business practices,” she added.

(We would ensure that there is a clear strategy for the country to be more competitive, and we would enforce it. The Philippine Competition Commission is there, we should strengthen it so that it can do its job to destroy monopolies and unfair business practices.)

According to Robredo, there has also be a push for industries where Filipinos can maximize their abilities, like in the maritime industry as Filipinos are known for being great seafarers; the tech industry which can be a big help to the economy if nurtured, and the manufacturing industry which has been an integral part of the country’s productivity.

“Ang pinakauna: ang maritime industry, kung saan may natural tayong bentahe dahil sa husay at dami ng marinong Pilipino. Tututok tayo sa tao: Iaayon natin ang training sa pandaigdigang pamantayan at isasali ang maritime industry sa mga kurso sa Senior High School,” Robredo said.

(First of all, the maritime industry, which we have a natural advantage because of the abilities of the Filipino mariners. We would focus on the people: we would set our training with the global standards and put the maritime as a program for Senior High School students.)

“Tututukan din natin ang tech industry, kung saan matatapatan ng mas maayos na sahod ang talino ng Pilipino. Imprastruktura ang pangunahing hakbang dito: Ang kailangan, mabilis na internet na aabot sa kanayunan at susuporta sa pambansang digitization,” she added.

(We would also pay attention to the tech industry, where the skill and ability of the Filipino worker would be accompanied by the proper salary. Here, infrastructure is the first step: we need a high-speed internet that reaches the countryside, to support the nationwide digitalization.)

At the same time though, Robredo said that she would ensure that while these industries are given attention, the country would also transform into a climate industry — which means the agricultural sector adopting and responding to climate change.

“Kasunod: Gagawin nating sentro ng climate industry ang Pilipinas. Bubuo tayo ng sariling e-transport industry. Palalakasin natin ang kabuhayan sa lalawigan sa pamamagitan ng mas moderno at mas sustainable na prosesong pang-agrikultura, sabay ng pag-invest sa climate-smart na agricultural infrastructure,” she explained.

(We would make the Philippines the center of a climate industry. We would build our own e-transport industry. We would strengthen the livelihood over the provinces by providing modern and sustainable ways to help agricultural processes, along with investments made for climate-smart agricultural infrastructure.)

“Bubuo tayo ng makatarungang framework tungo sa mas malinis na enerhiya. Lilikha tayo ng green jobs habang nakikiambag sa pandaigdigang tugon sa climate change,” she added.

(We would build a just framework towards clean energy. We would create green jobs while making our share towards the worldwide response to climate change.)

In terms of job discrimination and support to micro, small, and medium enterprises, Robredo said that certain laws and measures should only be enforced properly and intently so that the people would get the help that they need.

“Ipatutupad natin nang husto ang Anti-Age Discrimination Act, at isusulong ang pagsasabatas ng mas komprehensibong Anti-Discrimination Bill. Ang prinsipyo: Kahit may edad ka na, anuman ang natapos mo, anumang kasarian mo, kung handa kang magbanat ng buto, karapatan mong maghanapbuhay,” she said.

(We would implement the Anti-Age Discrimination Act properly, and push for a more comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill. The principle behind this is that even as you age, whatever educational attainment you have, whatever your gender preference is, as long as you want to work, you have a right to do that.)

“Bubuksan natin ang pinto para makalahok sila sa procurement process ng gobyerno. Imamandato natin ang pag-prioritize sa MSMEs at mga magsasaka sa mga kailangang bilhin ng mga government offices, kabilang na ang para sa mga food programs,” she added, using her office’s anti-poverty program Angat Buhay as an example.

(We would also open the door for businesses to join the government’s procurement processes. We would mandate that MSMEs are prioritized in purchases, along with the food programs.)

This is not the first time that Robredo has laid out her plans if she is elected president in the 2022 national elections: last November 3, Robredo laid out a series of plans that would help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and usher in recovery.

Dubbed as the Freedom from COVID-19 plan, Robredo gave a 10-point agenda in addressing the health and economic crisis, which mainly centers on strengthening the health sector so that sick patients can get accessible healthcare and be reintegrated into society faster.

RELATED STORIES:

Robredo’s freedom from COVID plan: Strong PH healthcare system needed to spur recovery 

Robredo’s promise: P216B for ayuda in first 100 days 

Robredo bares more on COVID plan: Tackle corruption, pick skillful DOH chief, fix PhilHealth 

JPV