Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday detailed her job generation plan if elected president, saying naturally hardworking and agile Filipinos need a lift to ride out the pandemic.
In "Hanapbuhay Para sa Lahat", the second installment of her comprehensive plans should she become president, Robredo said progress should be felt in the communities at a time when the pandemic resulted in job losses and economic fallout.
"Masipag ang Pilipino. Mabilis matuto ang Pilipino. Mahal ng Pilipino ang pamilya n'ya at handa siyang kumayod araw-araw para sa kanila. Sa pagkayod na ito, ang gobyerno dapat katuwang," she said.
Some 3.5 million Filipinos were unemployed while 7.04 millions others are underemployed as of October, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
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Robredo discussed five points in her jobs for all initiative:
Bring back trust in government
Robredo said she wants to revive the National Competitiveness Council to stop unfair business practices and monopolies while helping the country become globally competitive.
She also wants to fast-track the shift to digital and lure more investors by stamping out corruption red tape. She said this would need proper enforcement of the Ease of Doing Business Act and empowering the Anti-Red Tape Authority.
"Ititigil natin ang korapsyon, ang cronyism, at pang-aabuso sa sistema. Bubuwagin natin ang mga sindikatong ginawa nang negosyo ang gobyerno," said Robredo.
Develop marine, climate, tech, and manufacturing
Filipinos account for one out of four seaferers in the world, Robredo said, highlighting the need to strengthen the shipping and maritime industry. She said she would modernize infrastructures in piers and include maritime courses in the senior high school curriculum.
Robredo said she would push for sustainable climate practices by creating an e-transport industry.
To open more opportunities for Filipinos in the tech industry, she would promote to upskill the IT-BPO sector and craft strategies to invite more high-tech companies to invest in the Philippines.
End workplace discrimination
Robredo said she would enforce the Anti-Age Discrimination Act and push for the Anti-Discrimination Bill, which she authored while in Congress.
She said she would empower women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) industry and promote gender equal work practices while finding jobs for the elderly and support for new and single parents.
"Kahit may edad ka na at anuman ang natapos mo, anumang kasarian mo, kung handa kang magbanat ng buto, karapatan mong maghanapbuhay."
Support small businesses
Robredo said she would prioritize small businesses and farmers by linking them to government offices for food programs, similar to what she implemented in her anti-poverty program Angat Buhay under the Office of the Vice President.
"Gagawin nating mas moderno at digital ang sistema. Aaalisin natin ang red tape, para maging mas madali ang pagnenegosyo," she said.
Aid jobless Filipinos
Filipinos who lost their jobs shouldn't be blamed for industry changes fueled by technology, she said. Instead, they should be retrained and undergo skills-matching programs leading them to other job opportunities.
Under her Public Employment Program, the government would provide jobs for Filipinos.
"Kung mawalan ka ng trabaho nang hindi mo kasalanan, makaasa ka ng tulong sa matibay na Unemployment Insurance Program," said Robredo.
She said she would improve the STEM program in senior high school and Technical and Vocational Education and Training program while partnering with private sectors for more paid training programs, which will also combat abusive and unpaid internships.
"Ang gobyerno, dapat hindi hadlang kundi katuwang mo. Sa araw-araw mong pagkayod, dapat kakampi mo ang gobyerno," she said.
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