The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach in addressing the nation’s employment challenges and safeguarding workers’ rights. This commitment, highlighted during the recent Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Discussions on education and workers’ welfare, centers on the strategic principle of inter-agency “convergence.”
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma emphasized that this collaborative strategy is a defining characteristic of the current administration, directly responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify employment generation, particularly for the remaining four percent of the labor force who are still unemployed.
“The President’s specific mention of various departments and agencies concerning employment and labor reflects a crucial hallmark of the current administration,” Secretary Laguesma stated. “I am referring to the word ‘convergence’—the coming together, meeting, uniting, and joining forces of departments, because almost all departments are connected to matters of labor and employment.”
Secretary Laguesma cited several ongoing collaborative programs as tangible examples of this “convergence” in action. These include the “Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas” initiative, designed to provide employment opportunities for graduating 4Ps beneficiaries, and the sustained strengthening of job facilitation efforts through monthly nationwide job fairs. Furthermore, the enhancement of the online labor market platform PhilJobNet is underway to better serve the needs of tech-savvy job seekers.
The Labor Chief also underscored the critical importance of synergy with local government units (LGUs), the private sector, and various business organizations to ensure the sustained growth and expansion of employment opportunities across the country.
At the core of DOLE’s agenda remains the crucial focus on youth employability and their access to quality, long-term jobs. This commitment aligns with the government’s broader efforts to promote transparency and deepen public engagement on the Marcos administration’s key policy priorities, as part of the ongoing series of post-SONA discussions.
