Press Release
April 14, 2009

GOV'T SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON LOCAL JOB CREATION - LOREN

"The government should concentrate on creating more local jobs MORE than hunting abroad for jobs."

This was the statement of Sen. Loren Legarda when asked to comment on the trip to the Middle East of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ostensibly to apply for more jobs for Filipinos in Dubai City.

She instead proposed multipartite convention of the government and private sectors, including labor, business, academe and civil society, to discuss new economic strategies and directions to deal with the problem of massive unemployment more definitely and effectively.

"President Arroyo's sortie to Dubai in search of jobs even as the construction boom in that Middle East City turns to bust is illustrative of the global economic situation and the administration's illusions," said Loren.

"The administration should face the reality that the traditional markets for foreign jobs are shrinking because of the global financial meltdown," she declared.

"It will take perhaps several years before the foreign markets for immigrant labor will open up as widely as before the crisis. When they do, the doors may not be as wide open as they have been.

"Our only solution to the problem is to open up more job opportunities at home by redirecting our economic strategy toward industrialization and local processing and manufactures for home consumption," Loren stated.

She pointed out that the United States, China and Europe are pursuing this route of nationalist development to help their nationals, despite their protestations against protection. "The 'Buy American' provision in the US stimulus package is an eloquent example," she averred.

"It is time for us now to revive the economic provisions of our constitution calling for self-reliance, industrialization and agricultural modernization," said Loren, "to avoid being over-dependent on foreign markets and assistance."

She cited Section 1 of Article XII, on the National Economy and Patrimony, of the Constitution, which declares that "The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resou8rces, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets."

The same provision, Loren pointed out, provides that "However, the State shall protect Filipino enterprises against unfair foreign competition and unfair trade practices."

The actual implementation of this provision could be one of the issues that could be taken up by the multipartite convention, said Loren.

She pointed out that dependence on foreign countries for local unemployment "is too risky and unstable, and puts job-seeking Filipinos in harsh and dangerous situations, aside from tearing up Filipino families at home. We should not continue in this state permanently."

She cited the 92 Filipino seamen held as hostages by Somali pirates, the largest contingent of foreign hostages, as an example.

News Latest News Feed