President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to focus on programs that hone the skills of Filipino workers as he assured them that promoting their welfare remains his administration's top priority.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Arnold Quizol)

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Marcos said this as he graced multiple events at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, which are part of the 121st Labor Day Celebration on April 30, a day before the actual Labor Day celebration on May 1.

The President assured Filipino workers that the government would not neglect their plight and promised to protect them.

"Asahan po ninyo na hindi kailanman magpapabaya ang inyong pamahalaan sa larangan ng paggawa at empleyo, lalo na sa ilalim ng aking pamamalakad (Rest assured that your government will never neglect labor and employment)," he said.

"Bilang Pangulo, ipinapangako ko na ang proteksyon para sa manggagawang Pilipino ay mananatiling pangunahing prayoridad ng aking administrayon (As your President, I promise that protecting Filipino workers will continue as my administration's top priority)," he added.

President Marcos recognized the different plight of workers, including the rising prices of essential goods and services and transportation woes. He added that many workers were still not yet members of the country's social fund.

"Ang inyong pamahalaan ay masugid na nakabantay dito at ginagawa ang aming makakaya upang malunasan ang mga ito (Your government is focused on doing everything we can to resolve these issues)," he said.

"Maingat at unti-unti nating binubuksan at pinapasigla ang ating ekonomiya upang magbalikan at dumami ang mga negosyo at namumuhunan lalo na sa mga mahahalagang imprastraktura at agrikultura (We are carefully and slowly opening and strengthening our economy to entice investors and businesses, especially in important infrastructure projects and in agriculture)," he added.

The President also expressed confidence that Filipinos would have more jobs as he claimed that the government is boosting efforts to work with other countries.

He likewise vowed to improve the country's health and education sectors.

Marcos kicked off the series of Labor Day activities by opening the "Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa" outlet that gathered more than 150 businesses and sellers from participating agencies such as the DOLE, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The President likewise headed the distribution of different government assistance to 1,400 beneficiaries and checked an ongoing job fair that featured 902 participating employers.

According to the Chief Executive, the DOLE distributed P1 billion worth of assistance through its livelihood projects nationwide. Meanwhile, the job fair, also conducted in different parts of the country, offered more than 50,000 jobs, with around 12,000 at the SMX Convention Center.

In addition, President Marcos also drew five names who received house and lot packages from the government. Initially, only three attendees were supposed to win the prize.

However, Marcos admitted that these were only small programs and vowed the government would not stop there.

"Hindi natatapos sa araw na ito lamang ang tulong na hatid natin sa ating mga manggagawa (The delivery of assistance to our workers doesn't end today)," he said.

"Ang mga ito ay ilan lamang sa inisyatiba na ginagawa ng inyong pamahalaan upang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating mga manggagawa (These are only some of the initiatives that the government is doing to improve our workers' condition)," he added.

This year's Labor Day celebration focuses on the theme, 'Pabahay, Bilihing Abot Kaya, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para Sa Manggagawang Pilipino', as spearheaded by the DOLE in cooperation with different government agencies to honor the nation's labor force through collaborative efforts in various areas such as livelihood programs, job creations, and skills training.