Quezon City 1st district Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde (Photo courtesy of the office of QC Rep. Atayde)
MANILA, Philippines — A more aggressive collaboration between the government and private sector can lead to minimizing unemployment in the country, Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos Atayde said.
Atayde explained more jobs are needed since a study revealed 75 percent of Quezon City residents struggle with rising commodity prices.
“Based on our recent study in the first district of Quezon City after the first half of 2023, we see that almost 75 percent of our people are facing the challenge of increasing prices of basic goods, commodities, and other products throughout the years,” Atayde said during a speech at an Independence Day job fair, copies of which were released Wednesday.
“While 40 percent is coming from the lack of employment and lack of income. So it’s a challenge for all of us, lawmakers, to collaborate with the private sectors on how to resolve the unemployment,” he added.
Atayde believes lawmakers should create bills, conduct studies, and assess issues like unemployment.
Even though the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.5 percent, Atayde said lawmakers are still looking for ways to lower it.
“We, congressmen, are not just here to come up with a bill, but we also take time to study carefully all the details, especially about this problem of unemployment, and help every job seeker in every part of our country to get a job,” he said.
“We are taking this matter seriously in the congress. Everybody’s hoping, including myself, that by next few months or by next year, the percentage of lack of employment and income will soon be declined or gone slowly,” he added.
READ: Unemployment rate in PH eases to 4.7% in March
Atayde then thanked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for continuing to partner with the private sector in offering jobs.
“We are very thankful to the private sectors and DOLE for stepping up to offer jobs,” he added.
“We are very thankful to all the private sectors that participated in this endeavor. You are a huge inspiration to us in the government and a big help to the community,” he added.
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