Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (Facebook)

Pointing to the skidding unemployment rate, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda says that President Marcos has successfully shown his administration’s commitment to providing jobs to Filipinos.

According to PSA's latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) figures, unemployment rate further slid to 3.6 percent last November, down from the 4.2 percent recorded in November 2022 and October 2023.

"The November 2023 unemployment rate is the lowest since April 2005, demonstrating the Marcos administration’s commitment to providing opportunities for decent livelihood for all," Salceda said in a statement Tuesday, Jan. 9.

"Jobs growth was buoyed in large part by agriculture (1.24 million more jobs), and fishing and aquaculture (305,000), sectors where progress would also lead to lower food and overall prices," he noted.

"President Marcos has focused intently on these sectors, as fundamental to addressing both food prices and rural poverty," said the Committee on Ways and Means chairman.

Salceda also cited the growth in construction and transportation, as he said that these indicate higher demand for housing and consumer goods.

"What will make this economy resilient is the rise of a strong, stable, and prosperous middle class. Decent employment is at the heart of this. We in the President’s coalition are committed to this goal," the Bicolano said.

At any rate, Salceda said that the government "must not rest on our laurels".

He says that there is a need to encourage investments in manufacturing, which lost some 1.39 million jobs year-on-year.

"Durable manufacturing jobs come from a strong industrial base, which can only be built through a steady stream of investments, availability of competitively-priced inputs such as lower power cost, and continued innovation among the country’s entrepreneurs," he said.

Salceda said a strong manufacturing sector is essential "because it is what will add value to our agricultural production, and it provides opportunities accessible to workers of all education levels. It is what has created strong middle classes in developed countries."

"To that end, the House, under the leadership of Speaker [Martin] Romualdez, is pushing for reforms that will strengthen the manufacturing sector," he shared.