Focus on job creation

SURVEYS guru Mahar Mangahas has buttressed the call of National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Arsenio Balisacan for "strengthening of economic sectors he deems most capable of creating jobs and of reducing poverty. Both gentlemen agree on citing manufacturing, tourism and agriculture as prime labor-intensive sectors deserving of priority in development. Mangahas goes further by saying that the labor intensity of a sector obviously requires knowing how many workers are employed in it and relating them to how much the sector produces. The focus is indeed on job creation but ways have to be institutionalized and systematized in order to get qualified workers to handle different positions in work places needing them (the workers).

In Region III, where the province of Pampanga leads the way in matching skills of workers with available jobs, the effort or thrust continues to create more job opening for unemployed individuals whose rank will swell as new graduates join in this year in the race for survival.

Fortunately, the region's Labor and Employment Office is at the forefront in finding suitable jobs for the jobseekers. Assisting, as usual, are Tesda and other government agencies.

In Mabalacat City, no less than its City Mayor is personally reaching out to locators at the Clark Freeport Zone like L & T for slots to be opened for Mabalacat residents. The firm was enthusiastic and responsive to the mayor's call and even offered in-house training and machines for prospective sewers. The Customer Services Department of the Clark Development Corporation, headed by Rodem Perez is more than willing to pitch in in the search for job postings of Mabalaqueños.

At Peso Mabalacat, a skills registry system is being done in earnest in order to compile skills of residents who can be tapped at the flick of a finger.

Last week, in Davao City, it was reported that Motoo Konishi, World Bank country director, told hundreds of local and international delegates to the Philippine Development Forum that the big number of unemployed and underemployed in the Philippines poses a big challenge for the Aquino administration, which, days ago, luxuriously trumpeted the country's glowing economic performance, Mr. Konishi specifically stated that the need for good jobs - jobs that raise real wages or bring people out of poverty - is an overwhelming challenge.

Given this backdrop, there should be collective efforts to put in place programs aimed at massive job creation, with emphasis on those in the agriculture sector.

Truly, the strength of the nation is anchored on the working class, the OFWs and even the workers on the sly.

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The May 2013 elections are fast approaching, so, it's timely that reminders about their conduct are given out periodically. As some of us already know, the mandated Election Period started last January 13 and will end June 12. There are prohibited acts during that period like bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec; transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service; use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec and suspension of elective local officials. Further, the campaign period starts February 12 to May 11 for candidates for senator and party-list groups while March 29 to May 11 is the designated campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective regional, provincial, city and municipal officials.

The prohibited acts during this period are: appointment or hiring of new employees; creation or filling up of new positions; promotion or giving of salary increases, remuneration or privilege; construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrants or similar devices for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds and release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds.

So there, the candidates are well advised in order to avoid any controversy.