ECOP initiates summit on job-creation agenda

Trade chambers under the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) are staging the Employers Summit on Employment and Industrial Relations on Aug. 23 and 24 as an initial step to help fulfill the President’s agenda of creating at least six million jobs during her six-year term.

Rene Y. Soriano, ECOP president who made the announcement, said the summit output are (1) time-bound action plans that firms will undertake to protect and create specific number of jobs, and (2) policy options for government and companies to accelerate growth of the country’s main job creators – the entrepreneurs.

A review of the provisions of the Labor Code has been proposed to be discussed in the summit, he said.

With the theme "Keeping the Nation At Work" ("Negosyo At Trabaho Para sa Bayan"), ECOP has invited President Arroyo to address the job creators on the closing day. She will be introduced by Labor Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas. The conference, to be held at the Philippine Trade Training Center, will occur simultaneously with a jobs fair.

The keynote speaker is Tony Tan Caktiong, chairman/CEO of Jollibee Foods Corp. Last May 29 in Monte Carlo, he was voted by a panel of peers as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, besting entrepreneurs from 31 other countries.

Speakers during Plenary 2 — Young Entrepreneurs in the Forefront of the Country’s Development – are Pacita U. Juan, CEO, Figaro Coffee Co.; Jose Leo P. Caparas, general manager, Union Square Enterprise; Nicolaas K. de Lange, president, Design Ligna; Jose Michael B. Gonzales, Agro Fod Processing Development Corp.

The United States Agency for International Development will make two presentations: (a) Corporate Leadership in Population Management and (b) Food Fortification.

Plenary 2 consists of three simultaneous workshops on Aug. 23.

Workshop speakers for topic 1 – Reforming the Labor Market for Employment and Competitiveness – include Economic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri; Congressman Roseller Barinaga; Executive Director Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III of the National Wages and Productivity Commission; former Economic Planning Secretary and Prof. Gerardo Sicat of the University of the Philippines; and Filemon Berba, CEO, Integrated Micro Electronics.

Workshop speakers for topic 2 – Gearing Education and Training Towards Full Employment – are Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus; Deputy Director-General Milagos Dawa-Hernandez of TESDA; and Jose Ma. Concepcion III, president, RFM Corp.

Workshop speakers for topic 3 – Revving Up SME’s for Job Creation – are Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima; Alberto D. Lina, chairman, Airfreight 2100; and Jose Enrique Tanjuangco, owner, Anjo Farms Inc.

On Aug. 24, workshop outputs will be presented in Plenary 3.

Speaker for Plenary 4 – Transforming Philippine Industries into Globally Competitive Players – is Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

Also addressing the conference are Dr.Werner Blenk of the International Labour Organization, ECOP chairman Miguel B. Varela and Robin Sy, chairman of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the chambers cooperating for the summit are the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Exporters Confederation, and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Participants may register with the Summit Secretariat c/o Jayjay Augustia at 897-94-83 and 890-50-05 and (fax) 897-40-10 with e-mail address [email protected]."