President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged government agencies and industry stakeholders to expand access to decent jobs and livelihood opportunities as he addressed the 26th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress in Lapu-Lapu City on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Speaking at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark in Barangay Maribago, Marcos said government efforts must address barriers that prevent Filipinos from securing suitable employment, including limited access to job information, employment services and livelihood opportunities.
He also cited skills mismatch as a persistent problem that “continues to prevent workers from finding jobs suited to their capabilities, further resulting in unemployment and underemployment.”
To address the gap, Marcos said his administration had directed the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to align their training programs with labor market needs.
The President also highlighted the government’s employment initiatives, reporting that DOLE conducted 1,554 job fairs from January to August 2026, resulting in 65,534 individuals being hired on the spot.
Under the PESO program, more than 91% of qualified jobseekers were successfully placed, while the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program had provided emergency employment assistance to more than 14 million beneficiaries since the administration began, as of August 2026.
“These figures represent Filipinos gaining work experience, finding employment, and receiving assistance when they need it the most,” Marcos said.
Marcos also cited the recent P42 increase in the daily minimum wage for private-sector workers in the region, saying the government continued to pursue measures to support workers.
Despite the reported gains, he stressed that more work remained to ensure employment opportunities reached those who needed them.
“We must continue working together, directing resources where they are needed the most, and remaining accountable for the results,” he said.
Marcos assured jobseekers that the government would continue expanding opportunities for stable employment amid changing economic conditions.
“Makakaasa kayo na patuloy nating palalawakin ang mga oportunidad upang magkaroon kayo ng maayos na hanapbuhay,” he said. (“You can count on us to continue expanding opportunities so you can have decent livelihoods.”)
Among those acknowledged during the event were Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Philip Lo, Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan and PESO Managers Association of the Philippines Inc. National President Romualdo Garcia.
Photo courtesy of Capitol PIO
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