Palace cites reskilling for AI, support to MSMEs to address rising unemployment

MANILA – Malacañang on Friday laid out plans, including workforce reskilling and supporting small businesses, among others,to address the rising unemployment in the country.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that the unemployment rate went slightly up in September at 5.4 percent (or 2.86 million Filipinos) compared to 5.3 percent in August.

“Marami na ring kabataan ang guma-graduate at hindi naman agad nagkakaroon ng trabaho. Dahil most probably ang kanilang mga natutunan ay hindi angkop or wala pang ganoon karaming negosyo na maaaring tumanggap sa kanila,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing Friday, November 6.

Castro said the government has been conducting reskilling programs to equip workers on artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

“Iyong tinatawag nating pag-develop sa workforce, nandiyan po iyong upskilling, reskilling for digital and AI. Jobs skills matching. May mga talino kasi mayroong galing na hindi tama ang nakukuha nilang angkop sa kanilang skills,” she stated. 

The Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap has also been launched, said Castro, in a bid to boost the country’s manufacturing sector, which is seen to create more job opportunities for Filipinos. 

“Ang Luzon Economic Corridor ay makakatulong na ito ay palakihin, mag-build-up ng major hub for logistics, manufacturing and innovation,” Castro said. 

Apart from these, 46 Special Economic Zones have been approved. These are projected to attract P141.2 billion in investments and generate around 189,000 jobs, according to the Palace official. 

Castro also cited the government’s continued push for the proposed tax reforms, including the P350,000 income tax exemption and 2 percent minimum corporate income tax. 

“Nakikipagtulungan po ang ehekutibo sa Kongreso para maipasa agad ang budget para mas ma-improve pa ang public spending or public spending, fiscal stimulation para mas marami pang mga kababayan natin ang magkaroon ng trabaho,” she added.

“Kapag maraming proyekto ang gobyerno, mas maraming trabaho na maibibigay sa mga kababayan natin, mas mapagaan ang nararamdaman nilang hirap dulot itong very strong El Nino,” Castro noted.