Ramon Magsaysay 2021 awardee Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, along with sectoral representatives, have great expectations on Vice President Leni Robredo’s "Hanapbuhay para sa Lahat (Jobs for All)" plan should she win the presidency in the 2022 polls.
Ballon, a fishermen from Zamboanga Sibugay, and representatives of multi-sectoral groups were present during the launch of Robredo’s job recovery plan on Friday, Dec. 10.
Ballon said they’re looking forward to the fulfillment of Robredo’s five-point employment plan, noting the aspiring president was very much aware of the agriculture sector’s problem with the “value chain”.
“Alam niya kung ano ang problema sa baba, ano ang problema sa market at ano yung problema talaga ng ating mga sector ng mangingisda at magsasaka para paano sila umasenso at makisabay sa programang pangkabuhayan umangat talaga sa kahirapan (She knows the problem on the ground, the problems in the market, and the problems of our fishermen and farmers on how they will keep up with livelihood programs that will uplift their lives from poverty),” said Ballon, a member of Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA).
The Vice President presented her job recovery plan on Friday that centers on bringing back trust in government, strengthening various industries in the country, ending work discrimination, giving support to small businesses and those who lost their jobs.
This also includes pushing for a “climate industry”, building green infrastructure that could generate jobs, reviving the manufacturing industry, and bringing in tech firms in the country, among others.
READ: Robredo presents 5-point employment plan if she wins the presidency
PAKISAMA president Herminio Absalon expressed confidence with Robredo’s plan, citing the modern practices to be developed under her presidency in farming and invest in green infrastructures would vastly improve the farming industry.
“Kung iyon ang mga plataporma niya na gagawin niya pag-upo niya bilang Presidente, naniniwala kami 100 percent kasi kapag si VP Leni nagsalita, ginagawa (If that’s her platform when she become president, I believe it 100 percent because she fulfills what she says),” he added.
Jaybee Garganera of the Green Agenda for Leni also looks forward to Robredo’s plan for the green development of local government units.
He cited that the green transport or electric-powered vehicles as well as resilient infrastructure will benefit both the environment and Filipinos.
“Walang kwenta kung may trabaho ka ngayon pero masisira ‘yung kalikasan (It is useless if you have a job but the environment is destroyed) 10, 20 years down the road,” Garganera said. “Ang paniniwala namin walang negosyo at walang trabaho sa isang patay na planeta (We believe there are no businesses and jobs in a dead planet).”
For Catherine Christine Raposas, a representative of the IT BPO sector, strengthening the tech industry and the implementation of the anti-age discrimination law were the most important points in Robredo’s jobs program.
She believes it would be a great advantage for the workers in the BPO industry if government can increase internet speed nationwide because of the work from home scheme.
“If the workers can work close to their homes and their families, they’ll be happy workers and happy workers are productive workers,” Raposas said.