Las Piñas mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar

Las Piñas mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar pledged to make job creation and local hiring for Las Piñeros his top economic priority, as he emphasized that residents must be the first to benefit from the city's growth.

"Las Piñas is gearing up for unprecedented progress in the next five years. Las Piñeros should be considered a priority in all job placements in the city,” he stressed.

Aguilar pointed out that Las Piñas has lagged behind neighboring cities in the last 10 years. 

“Our beloved Las Piñas has this potential and power to be a leading city in Metro Manila, but we need the vision to turn this momentum into jobs and inclusive economic growth for everyone,” he said.

The mayoral candidate said that recent business data shows Las Piñas has 13,885 registered business establishments, with 13,107 renewals and 778 new registrations. He said this is a sign of growing economic activity which should directly translate to more employment and livelihood opportunities for the city's residents.

Aguilar also plans to institute the following measures to strengthen the local workforce:

• Regular job fairs in partnership with the private sector, ensuring that companies hire locally and that job openings match the skills of Las Piñeros.

• Skills training for displaced workers, women, and the youth, focusing on industry-relevant competencies to make residents more competitive.

• Free training in digital marketing and e-commerce to prepare Las Piñeros for opportunities in the growing digital economy.

• "Buy Local" campaigns that encourage support for products and services made by Las Piñeros, strengthening small businesses and creating a cycle of local economic development.

Aguilar also plans to establish a Small Business Assistance Desk at City Hall to provide continuous mentoring and support for micro and small enterprises.

"Our city is growing, and with it comes opportunity," Aguilar said. "But real progress means ensuring that every hardworking Las Piñero has a path to a decent livelihood — whether through employment or entrepreneurship."

Aguilar added that programs will be strengthened through partnerships with national agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and supported through careful realignment of the city's budget to focus on people-centered economic initiatives.

"This is about putting Las Piñeros first, empowering our communities, and ensuring no one is left behind as we move forward," he said