By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. praised the wide-ranging achievements made by his administration on bolstering the country’s domestic labor market over the first half of his term, in his speech at the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) held at Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on Monday.
Such includes the highest labor force participation rate since 2005 which was recorded by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) and the sustained economic growth in Q1 2025 recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Building upon these milestones, he ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned agencies to sustain the country’s progress in reducing the number of unemployed Filipinos.
President Marcos directed the concerned government agencies, “Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbibigay ng puhunan sa mas marami pang negosyante para makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo o microenterprise, sa mababang interest, at walang kolateral. Pati na rin ang kapital at proteksyon para sa mga yamang-isip.”
The Chief Executive likewise reaffirmed the government’s support for Filipinos living in poverty, by continuing to provide them with free entrepreneurship education in order for them to establish their own businesses.
He also vowed to further develop other industries such as automotive, electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, textiles, Halal products, construction, and power generation.
President Marcos told prospective foreign investors, “My single resounding message to the international business community is this: The Philippines is ready. Invest in the Filipino.”
The President added, “Our cavalcade of dependable and hardworking Filipinos, innately skilled, adaptable, and possessed with a heart for service, are here, ready to work and to succeed with you.”
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