By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Friday assured the public of the government’s ongoing interventions to address rising unemployment, including workforce development, advanced manufacturing, and support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is pursuing programs to equip Filipino workers with skills that match the changing demands of industries.
Usec. Castro said among the government’s initiatives are workforce development, upskilling and riskilling programs in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as improved job skills matching.
“Most probably, ang kanilang mga natutunan ay hindi angkop or wala pang ganoon karaming negosyo na maaaring tumanggap sa kanila. Kaya nandiyan po ang panukala ng Pangulo at isinasagawa ngayon. Iyong tinatawag nating pag-develop a workforce,” she said.
Usec. Castro made the statement after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the national unemployment rate rose to 54% in September 2026, corresponding to 2.88 million unemployed Filipinos.
The figure represented an increase of 909,000 from the same period last year and 96,000 from the previous month.
The Palace official said many young Filipinos do not immediately find employment after graduation because their acquired skills do not match the requirements of available jobs.
Ways forward
She said the administration is also pushing advanced manufacturing and MSME growth to expand employment opportunities.
Usec. Castro cited the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap, which seeks to expand the country’s manufacturing base and generate more jobs.
She also highlighted the Luzon Economic Corridor, which aims to develop major hubs for logistics, manufacturing, and innovations.
The government, she said, has likewise approved 46 special economic zones, which are projected to attract P141.2 billion in investments and generate around 189,000 jobs
Of these economic zones, 43 are located outside Metro Manila, including 29 in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao, Castro said.
Asked how the government’s push for Al-related skills would be reconciled with concerns that it could displace workers, she said Filipinos must seek continuous learning to improve their knowledge and skills to keep pace with technological advancements.
Usec. Castro acknowledged that Al could affect certain jobs but noted that it could also create new employment opportunities, including positions offering higher incomes
“Hindi tayo maaari na manatiling kapos sa kaalaman. Kaya nga lagi pino-promote ang Pangulo na dapat tayo matuto kasi Al era na tayo,” she added.
The Palace official said the government is also supporting proposals to increase the annual personal income tax exemption threshold to P550,000 to give Filipino workers additional disposable income.
She said the administration is likewise hacking a proposal to exempt micro enterprises from the 2-percent minimum corporate income tax, which could help small businesses preserve capital for expansion and hiring.
Usec. Castro said the executive branch is working with Congress to ensure the timely passage of the national budget, which would support government spending on projects that generate employment.
