President Marcos believes that Filipinos can keep up with the changing workforce landscape if given the right support and opportunities.

He made the statement during the Job Fair + Skills E-Hub Holiday Career Fest at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Thursday, Dec. 11. 

"The global workforce is changing very, very quickly—but I believe the Filipino will keep pace, even lead, when given the right support and the right opportunities," Marcos said in his speech.

He vowed that the administration will continue to create a fair and transparent business environment to attract more investors.

"Be assured this Administration will continue to create a fair, transparent, and enabling business environment—one that encourages both local and foreign investments, and rewards persistence with progress," Marcos said.

The President also stated that the close partnership between the government and the private sector “has proven to be one of the strongest drivers of national development,” especially in creating jobs, providing skills training, and supporting Filipino workers and entrepreneurs.

He noted that since 2023, the government’s partnership with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) through Trabaho Para sa Bayan: J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) has organized over 5,000 job fairs nationwide, reaching 1.3 million job seekers, and helped at least 200,000 individuals get hired on the spot.

He encouraged job seekers to make the most of the job fair which also offered free digital training programs, expanding access to in-demand digital skills for job seekers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us pray that the opportunities before you today encourage you to learn new competencies, enrich your experiences, share your talents with your communities," Marcos said.

"To our job seekers: make the most of this moment. Equip yourselves with new skills, be open to new ways of doing things," he told them.

The Chief Executive also urged the entrepreneurs to use the job fair event to build partnerships, explore new ideas, and envision bigger possibilities. 

"To our entrepreneurs: This is your stage. Show the excellence, the creativity, the innovation that define the Filipino spirit," he said.

Through the partnership of SM, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Marcos said the government was able to organize the Job Fair and Skills e-Hub at MOA, while DOLE simultaneously conducted job fairs in eight other sites nationwide. 

Meanwhile, Marcos announced DOLE’s release of financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries under the Tulong Pang-hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, giving immediate relief to affected workers.

In addition to the TUPAD payout, the agency distributed 19 sacks of rice to several bigasan enterprises to serve as seed capital and to boost their daily operations.

DOLE also awarded financial assistance checks to five (MSMEs) under its Adjustment Measures Program.

“We hope that government assistance would help you grow your business, improving enterprise viability, competitiveness, and productivity,” Marcos said.