President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the vital role of small businesses and Filipino workforce in driving national growth as he led the rollout of large-scale job fairs and upskilling programs nationwide.
During the Job Fair + Skills E-Hub at the SM Mall of Asia, Marcos said the readiness of small enterprises and skilled workers to embrace digital transformation will further accelerate the country’s development.
Ongoing job fairs and skills-training hubs are bringing more opportunities to Filipinos, Marcos said, citing the government’s collaboration with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) which has so far produced over 5,000 job fairs, reached 1.3 million job seekers, and hired over 200,000 on the spot since 2023.
“Time and time again, this partnership has proven to be one of the strongest drivers of national development. Today is no exception,” Marcos said.
“In these times, when many Filipinos are having a hard time finding employment that matches their skills, their interests and their aspirations, we recognized that this is our responsibility to ensure that assistance is something that meets them wherever they are.”
Marcos encouraged applicants to learn new competencies and adapt to fast-changing industries.
“To our job seekers, make the most of this moment. Equip yourselves with new skills. Be open to new ways of doing things. The global workforce is changing very, very quickly. But I believe the Filipino will keep pace – even lead – when given the right support and the right opportunities,” he said.
Marcos also expressed confidence that entrepreneurs would demonstrate the excellence, creativity, and innovation “that define the Filipino spirit.”
“Use this occasion to build partnerships, explore new ideas, and envision bigger possibilities. Be assured that this administration will continue to create a fair, transparent, and enabling business environment – one that encourages both local and foreign investment and rewards persistence with progress,” he said.
An initiative by the Office of the President, the Job Fair + Skills E-Hub was organized in partnership with the PSAC, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and SM Supermalls.
The job fair, which was carried out simultaneously in nine areas nationwide, coincided with the DOLE’s 92nd founding anniversary.
A total of 114 employers offering 16,053 local and overseas vacancies participated in the event.
Around 15,768 vacancies were opened by 113 local employers, while 295 vacancies were offered by one agency for overseas placement.
Key industries and top positions featured in the job fair include manufacturing (production operators), retail (store clerks and baggers), and business process outsourcing (customer service representatives).
A one-stop shop for government services was also set up to facilitate the processing of pre-employment documents.
During the event, Marcos led the distribution of various forms of assistance, including PHP1.2 million in payouts for beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, and PHP2.68 million in subsidies for five micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the Adjustment Measures Program.
“We hope that government assistance will help you grow your businesses, improving enterprise viability, competitiveness and productivity,” Marcos said. (PNA)
