More infra projects mean more jobs—Miriam

DAGUPAN CITY – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Sunday emphasized the need to build more infrastructure to generate more opportunities for jobless Filipinos.

“Gagawa tayo ng maraming infrastructure–roads, bridges, airports, seaports, and urban transit systems,” Santiago said during the third and last government-sanctioned presidential debate here.

“‘Pag binuksan natin ‘yung mga proyekto na ‘yun, milyong trabaho ang magbubukas,” she added.

Santiago lamented that millions of Filipino graduates have nowhere to go to after leaving the university due to the lack of jobs in the country.

“The government must pay attention to infrastructure, farm to market roads, irrigation… Kung gumawa ka ng trabaho, lalapit ang tao sa’yo,” she added.

Santiago also denounced labor contractualization as an “illegal” and “possibly unconstitutional” practice that violates an employee’s right for security of tenure.

The senator added that she was in favor of lowering both the income and corporate taxes, and proposed the creation of a “strong economy” for overseas Filipino workers.

“The best way we can help OFWs is not to make it a necessity for them to leave. Build a strong economy. A legal assistance is very important to OFWs–consul generals should have special training in helping OFWS when they are in need,” she said.