Press Release
December 15, 2008

ROXAS PUSHES FOR LOCAL JOB CREATION
CHIDES MALACAñANG FOR ENCOURAGING OFW EXODUS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said Malacañang should work towards providing local employment to jobless workers instead of encouraging them to leave the country and work abroad.

"Hindi naman talaga kailangang umalis ng ating mga Kababayan para mag-trabaho sa ibang bansa. Kung tutuusin, marami namang oportunidad dito sa atin ngunit hindi tayo natutulungan ng gobyerno dahil sa masyado itong abala sa pagtulak ng kanyang personal na interest. (Our Kababayans don't have to work abroad. There are many job opportunities in the country but the government is too busy pushing for its personal interests that is has failed to assist the jobless in finding jobs)," he said.

President Arroyo announced over the weekend that 37,000 jobs await Filipinos in Qatar next year despite the global financial crunch being experienced by big nations like the United States .

Malacañang said the job orders would offset the displacement of Filipino workers in other countries. The International Labor Organization in October said that some 20 million people are expected to lose their jobs between the third quarter of this year and the end of 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis.

The Ilonggo senator urged the Arroyo government to prioritize the creation of employment opportunities in the country to stop the exodus of Filipino workers abroad rather than push for constitutional amendments for the vested interests of Malacañang's tenants.

"Saka na muna iyang Gloria Forever Cha-Cha na iyan. Unahin muna natin ang paghahanap ng trabaho para sa ating mga Kababayan nang sa gayon ay hindi na nila kailangan pang umalis at mag-trabaho sa ibang bansa. (Let's not deal with this Gloria Forever Cha-Cha now. Let us focus first on finding jobs for the unemployed so they do not have to leave the country)," he said.

He said government economic managers should focus on the productive sectors of the economy that are potent employment providers and encourage businesses to provide openings for the local labor force.

He likewise reiterated the 2009 national budget should be recast to address the "real" needs of the people, like jobs and food security, in light of the global economic slowdown that is expected to hit the country next year.

The chairman of the Senate education committee also said proposed reforms in the education sector should now be discussed to ensure that future graduates are more attuned with the requirements of the business industry.

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