Expanded employment opportunities: Match skills with jobs - BBM

CEBU, Philippines —  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called for expanded employment opportunities and better alignment of training programs with industry needs as he opened the 26th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress in Lapu-Lapu City.

Speaking before around 1,700 delegates nationwide, Marcos said limited access to job information and employment services, along with skills mismatch, continues to prevent Filipinos from securing decent work.

He said the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority have been directed to align training programs with labor market needs.

Marcos also highlighted three flagship innovations under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program: Trabahong-Dagat, SkillPass and Sagip-Trabaho.

Trabahong-Dagat combines temporary employment with skills training and certification for coastal and fishing communities. SkillPass links employment with skills development and certification, while Sagip-Trabaho provides temporary wage support and worker-protection assistance to distressed workers of micro, small and medium enterprises.

A Maritime Local and Overseas Job Fair was also being held, offering more than 1,300 vacancies, including 275 maritime jobs, Marcos said.

Citing employment gains, the President said 111,509 students and out-of-school youth obtained short-term jobs through the Special Program for Employment of Students in the first half of 2026, while nearly 20,000 interns gained public service experience through the Government Internship Program.

From January to August, the government conducted 1,554 job fairs, resulting in 65,534 on-the-spot hires. More than 91 percent of qualified jobseekers under the PESO program were also successfully placed.

As of August, TUPAD had provided emergency employment assistance to more than 14 million beneficiaries since the start of the Marcos administration.

Marcos also noted the effectivity on Wednesday of a ?42 daily minimum wage increase for covered private-sector workers in Central Visayas and a ?500 monthly wage increase for domestic workers, or kasambahays.

“Together, let us build a Bagong Pilipinas where every Filipino has a fair chance to obtain quality and decent work,” Marcos said.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro thanked the national government for its employment and livelihood assistance, saying these programs had helped families cope with economic challenges.

She stressed that efforts to attract investments and support businesses must translate into jobs for Cebuanos, requiring closer coordination among employers, schools and training institutions.

Baricuatro also reaffirmed the province’s commitment to working with DOLE, local governments and other partners to bring employment opportunities closer to communities, particularly those struggling to find work.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan said the city had established nine satellite PESO offices in its barangays and conducted 21 job fairs this year to connect residents with employers.

She said attracting investments and supporting businesses remain central to the city’s efforts to generate jobs and improve livelihoods.

“We also believe that employment and investment go hand in hand. Our city recently received the Most Business-Friendly LGU Special Citation Award in the Highly Urbanized City Category, awarded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We take pride in this recognition as we continue to welcome investments, support growing businesses, and create more opportunities for our people. For us, economic progress must translate into real jobs and better livelihoods for every Oponganon,” King-Chan added.

The congress, themed “Kaunlaran sa Bawat Komunidad, Oportunidad sa Bawat Mamamayan,” aims to strengthen PESOs’ role in connecting jobseekers with employers and bringing employment services closer to communities.-(CEBU NEWS)