ZAMBOANGA CITY – The launch of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK), a job and business fair, here on Friday is one of the measures the Duterte administration is implementing to ensure that all sectors of society will benefit as the economy is experiencing growth of 6.5 percent in the second quarter, the fastest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sec. Ramon Lopez said economic growth should be inclusive.
At the TNK opening, he said: “A lot of good things are happening, investments are coming in, economic growth is at 6.5 percent. You’ve heard of Dutertenomics, this is the summary of the 10-point socio-economic agenda of the government of President Duterte that basically tries to widen the gain of the growth of our country.”
The TNK, which ends on October 10, is a joint program of DTI and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Lopez stressed that these gains are not just for a few, but most importantly for those who really need the government’s help.
“We really want to bring development, growth, and prosperity for all. We want to empower those who belong to the bottom of the pyramid because empowering them is empowering the nation. This is the passion of the current government, this is the core of the TNK program,” he said.
Lopez also mentioned positive growth in some key sectors of the economy.
“We are very happy that aside from the 6.5 percent economic growth, the manufacturing sector is growing by 7-8 percent but used to be growing by only 2 percent growth rate in the past years.
Investment, as share to the Gross Domestic Product (GPD), is the one pulling up our economy growing by +20 percent,” he said.
The export sector, according to Lopez, has also turned around from -5 percent to about +15 percent growth, and the same with agriculture from negative to +6 percent growth. The business confidence index has also reached 43 percent.
“These numbers were very low before, so you can feel the economic growth of our country is enjoying,” he said.
But what is important, Lopez said, is President Rodrigo Duterte’s standing order to ensure that these gains reach the masses.
“Our President always reminds us to make sure that kind of growth is felt at the base of the pyramid, that is why in all this growth, jobs are created, if they can’t find jobs, there are those whose interest are into business,” he stressed.
He further cited the growing number of people wanting to venture into entrepreneurship.
“In our 13 years of our advocacy on MSMEs, there is a growing awareness and likelihood of people wanting to go into business by choice, not because they are desperate for survival,” he said.
Lopez said TNK is giving all opportunities for the public to grab.
“We are mixing everything here. Those who would like to search for jobs or venture into business, all these opportunities are made available for the public to take. We are trying to create a culture that is really enterprising. Creating a culture of Filipinos who are success-driven, value work, who would not just depend on government dole-outs, but rather would take control of their destiny,” he said. (PNA)
