Ex-DOF chief bats for level playing field

MANILA, Philippines - Former Finance Secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr. said the government must implement sound and stable policies as well as level the playing field for domestic and foreign firms to be able to attract more investments.

Speaking at the recent “E-Leksyon 2010 Series” aired over Studio 23, Del Rosario said the government will be able to address unemployment in the country if it will create more investments.

“If we want to create jobs we have to create investments,” Del Rosario said. “More investments will create more jobs.”

He said the government should implement sound and stable policies, level the playing field for local and foreign firms and increase the number of skilled workers.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) reported on Tuesday that the number of unemployed dropped by about 100,000 in the first month of the year compared to the same period in 2009.

There were 2.8 million people unemployed in January, down from the 2.9 million recorded last year, the NSO said.

However, the Ibon Foundation reported the country’s employment picture was at its worst in 2009, with around 64.4 percent to 81 percent of the 39.4-million labor force that year either jobless or in poor-quality work.

It said the average unemployment rate for 2001-2009 was 11.2 percent, the country’s worst nine-year period of sustained high joblessness since 1956.

Unemployment rates were much lower in 1956-1960 (eight percent), 1961-1970 (7.3 percent), 1971-1980 (5.4 percent), 1981-1990 (10.2 percent) and 1991-2000 (9.8 percent), it said.