Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee in the 18th Congress, on Thursday, June 30, thanked President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr. for recognizing labor-related programs as priorities in his administration.
‘’President Bongbong Marcos mentioned the importance of job opportunities, tech-voc (technical-vocational) training, and fair wages early in his inauguration speech... these are our advocacies,’’ he emphasized.
Villanueva said he would coordinate with the economic managers of the new administration, ‘’especially with incoming DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) Secretary (Susan) Toots Ople and incoming labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, so we can work on programs for the welfare and development of our workers.’’
Some of these programs include the institutionalization of the National Employment Strategy and the TUPAD Emergency Employment program, which would continue the programs initiated by the outgoing administration, he pointed out.
‘’These programs are very appropriate for addressing the effects of the current crises on our workers, particularly those from the transportation and agriculture sectors,’’ he added.