Aquino says 3.1M jobs created in past 2 years

President Benigno Aquino III. FILE PHOTO/MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino on Monday said in his State of the Nation Address that some 3.1 million new jobs were created in the past two years of his administration.

“Pababa nang pababa ang unemployment rate sa bansa,” Aquino said in his third Sona at the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

“Sinisiguro nating manganganak ng trabaho ang pagsigla ng ating ekonomiya,” he said.

Aquino said when he came into office, the unemployment rate was 8 percent, but as of April 2011, the rate dropped to 7.2 percent and as of the first half of 2012, it has been further reduced to 6.9 percent.

Aquino said that 638,000 people have been given jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry,  which he said has infused $1 billion into the country’s economy in 2011. The BPO industry has also generated many other indirect jobs, he added.

“Di ba makatwirang mangarap na balang araw, bawat Pilipinong handang magbanat ng buto, may

mapapasukang trabaho?” Aquino said.