MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is looking to complete the country’s employment generation master plan in the fourth quarter of the year.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Trabaho Para Sa Bayan (TPB) Plan would be finalized toward the end of the year, following the signing of the TPB Act’s implementing rules and regulations.
Aside from Balisacan, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo also signed the guidelines of the plan that will serve as the country’s master plan for generating employment and creating high-quality jobs.
Under the TPB Act signed last September, an inter-agency council led by the NEDA Secretary will be established to formulate a master plan for employment generation and recovery.
Balisacan said the TPB Act is “an important piece of legislation that aims to increase the income-earning ability of our fellow Filipinos by boosting employability, improving the quality of employment and establishing shared labor market governance.”
He said the TPB Plan would identify specific sectors for job generation and specific areas where support will be provided.
Among the priority sectors to be included in the TPB Plan are the creative sectors.
This, as Balisacan said the government would want the country to take advantage of its strengths.
In crafting the TPB Plan, he said the government would look at how to use new technology in the service sector to enhance manufactured products so these could have much higher value than the usual mass produced goods.
The government will also be conducting consultations with various groups for the TPB Plan.
“We encourage our partners in government, the private sector, employees’ and employers’ organizations, informal sector workers and other vulnerable groups to actively participate in the upcoming consultations for the development of this master plan,” Balisacan said.