President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ( REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday led the distribution of various government assistance packages to beneficiaries in Pasay City as he vowed to prioritize the welfare and protection of workers under his administration head of the nation’s celebration of Labor Day on Monday, May 1.
Around 1,400 beneficiaries received government aid at the SMX Convention Center a day before the observance of the 121st Labor Day.
“Asahan po ninyo na hindi kailanman magpapabaya ang inyong pamahalaan sa larangan ng paggawa at empleyo, lalo na sa ilalim ng aking pamamalakad. Bilang Pangulo, ipinapangako ko na ang proteksyon para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino ay mananatiling pangunahing prayoridad ng aking administrasyon,” Marcos said.
(The government will never neglect the field of labor and employment, especially under my administration. As President, I promise to protect Filipino workers, such will remain a top priority of my administration.)
“Kaya inaatasan ko ang lahat ng mga kaugnay na ahensya, lalong-lalo na ang DOLE, na manatiling nakatuon sa paghahatid ng mga maiinam na programang pang hanapbuhay at sa paglinang sa kaalaman at kasanayan ng ating mga manggagawa,” he added.
(I am directing all relevant agencies, especially the DOLE, to remain committed to delivering good employment programs and to cultivate the knowledge and skills of our workers.)
Among the assistance packages and initiatives Marcos mentioned are the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) and Integrated Livelihood Program, Government Internship Program (GIP), Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), and tool kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“Bilang panimula, naririyan ang pamimigay ng DOLE ng ayuda na aabot sa mahigit 1 bilyong piso, mula sa mga programang panghanapbuhay nito,” Marcos said.
(From its employment programs, we have the DOLE’s distribution of aid amounting to over 1 billion pesos,)
“Mayroon din tayong mga job and livelihood fairs […] Mahigit na 50,000 na hanapbuhay sa buong bansa ang dala-dala ng job fair na ito; at 12,000 ng mga trabahong ito ay nandito sa Metro Manila,” he added.
(We also have job and livelihood fairs. These job fairs bring have more than 50,000 jobs available throughout the country, and 12,000 are here in Metro Manila.)
He also mentioned the initiatives under his Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa mga Manggagawa, which aims to aid farmers, fisherfolk, and small business owners, and a raffle with a prize house and lot for three lucky winners.