Marcos leads PESO congress in Cebu, launches new employment programs

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the opening of the 26th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress, where the government launched new employment programs aimed at helping disadvantaged workers and improving access to livelihood opportunities.

Marcos also witnessed the awarding of outstanding PESOs across the country during the gathering.

In his speech, Marcos acknowledged the challenges that continue to hinder Filipino workers.

“Limited access to job information, employment services and livelihood opportunities remain a barrier to securing decent work. Skills mismatch continues to prevent workers from finding jobs suited to their capabilities, further resulting in unemployment and underemployment,” he said.

To address these concerns, the president said the government is working to align training programs with labor market needs through the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“We continue to promote skills development responsive to local and international business and industries and strengthen the link between training and employment,” he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment also launched new initiatives under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, which provides temporary employment to disadvantaged workers.

The TUPAD Flagship Innovations aim to make the program more responsive to workers’ needs and help them transition toward more sustainable livelihood opportunities.

These include Trabahong-Dagat; SkillPass, a work-to-skills-to-certification pathway; and Sagip-Trabaho, which provides distressed workers from micro, small and medium enterprises with temporary wage support and worker-protection assistance, among other initiatives.

Marcos said the programs underscore the importance of helping workers develop their skills, gain experience and build secure livelihoods.

“For our part, the national government continues to implement programs that translate policy into tangible results,” he said.

The president also cited other government employment initiatives, including the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), which provided short-term employment to 111,509 students and out-of-school youth in the first half of 2026.

During the same period, nearly 20,000 interns were enrolled in the Government Internship Program.

From January to August 2026, the government also conducted 1,554 job fairs, with more than 65,534 individuals hired on the spot, according to Marcos.

“Under the PESO program, more than 91 percent of qualified jobseekers were successfully placed,” he said.

Marcos also announced that wage increases in Central Visayas took effect on Wednesday, October 14.

Covered private-sector workers in the region will receive an additional P42 in their daily minimum wage, while the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers, or kasambahays, will increase by P500.

“These increases aim to improve workers’ earnings and help them provide for their families,” Marcos said.

However, labor groups had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the wage increase, saying the P42 daily adjustment was insufficient to keep up with rising prices of basic goods.