PGMA's Speech during the 55th Commencement Exercises at Manuel Enverga University

PGMA's Speech during the 55th Commencement Exercises of the Manuel Enverga University

Lucena City, Quezon (10 April 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

PUWEDE NA KAYONG UMUPO.

MARAMING SALAMAT GOVERNOR ENVERGA SA INYONG PAGPAKILALA SA AKIN. AT MARAMING SALAMAT SA MARAMING BESES NA INIMBITA NINYO AKO DITO SA ENVERGA UNIVERSITY.

MATAGAL NA AKONG PUMUPUNTA RITO, SENADOR PA AKO. PERO SIYEMPRE NAGPAPALIT YUNG MGA ESTUDYANTE SO ALWAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME NAKIKILALA NA NAMAN TAYO.

BINABATI KO RIN SI PRESIDENT LAURELES NG UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION. AT BILANG PATUNAY NA AKOÕY HINDI ISANG STRANGER ETO NGA RETRATO NAMIN NUNG ISANG PAGBISITA KO DITO NUNG AKOÕY SENADOR PA.

BINABATI KO LAHAT NG MGA TEACHERS NA NARITO. AT NANDITO RIN YUNG ATING KASAMA MULA SA MALACA„ANG, SI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR SOUTHERN TAGALOG, SI PA CESAR SARINO NA NARITO, AT SAKA SI PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FOR EDUCATION, SI MONA VALISNO NA NARITO RIN.

KANINA NAKITA KO TUMATAKBO DITO SA ISLE KASAMA NI GOVERNOR ENVERGA SI VICE GOVERNOR TALABONG KAYA BINABATI KO RIN SIYA. ACTUALLY HINDI SILA NAHULI, TAYO ANG NAG-UMPISA NG MAAGA KASI NAKITA KO SA PROGRAM TWO OÕCLOCK DAPAT ITONG GRADUATION, ONE OÕCLOCK TAYO NAGSIMULA.

KAYA MABUTI NA LANG YUNG PARATING HANDA AT PARATING AHEAD OF TIME KASI YON AY ISANG HAMON NG DARATING NA CENTURY: HOW TO BE THERE AHEAD OF THE OTHERS.

ALAM NIYO SI GOVERNOR ENVERGA KUNG BAKIT NGA ILANG BESES NG INIMBITA AKO SA ESKWELAHAN NILA, DAHIL IYONG AMING TATAY, PINAPAALALA NIYA SA AKIN NGAYON, AY MAGKASAMA SA KONGRESO. ALAM KO IYON EH NA MAGKASAMA SILA SA KONGRESO PERO MAYROON PANG SINABI SI WILLY NA SILA AY HALOS SEATMATE DAHIL IYONG SITTING ARRANGEMENT SA KONGRESO NOON AY ALPHABETICAL ORDER -- IYONG P AT SAKA IYONG Q MAGKASUNOD, IYONG CONGRESSMAN FROM PAMPANGA AT SAKA IYONG CONGRESSMAN FROM QUEZON MAGKATABI TULOY. KAYA AKO, BAGAMAÕT NANGGAGALING SA PAMPANGA AY MALAPIT AKO DITO SA QUEZON.

AND SO TODAY, MY DEAR STUDENTS, I CONGRATULATE OUR GRADUATES AS I COMMEND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF OF THE ENVERGA UNIVERSITY FOR YOUR CONTINUED ZEAL AND COMMITMENT IN THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE. IN THIS REGION, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE, YOU ARE ALL PARTNERS, OUR PARTNERS FOR NATIONAL PROGRESS.

ON THIS DAY, YOU, THE GRADUATES, LEAVE YOUR UNIVERSITY LECTURES BEHIND. YOU WILL NOW BE THE SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS OF OUR NATIONÕS FUTURE. THE KEY LESSON OF ANY COMMENCEMENT IS THAT THE WORLD IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS. THE FUTURE BECOMES YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. YOU CAN NO LONGER LEAN UPON YOUR TEACHERS FOR HINTS OR ANSWERS. YOU HAVE TO STEP FORTH ON YOUR OWN.

AS YOU LINE UP YOUR SIGHTS ON THE PROFESSIONAL HORIZON, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU MUST KEEP IN MIND.

IYONG ISA, GUSTO MAN NATIN O HINDI, ALMOST ALL OUR NATIONAL CONCERNS HAVE BECOME GLOBALIZED. IN TODAYÕS MARKETPLACE, IDEAS, DISCOVERIES, TECHNOLOGY, MONEY, AND HUMAN RESOURCES MOVE QUICKLY FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER. COMPETITION IS KEEN, WE MUST CONSTANTLY KEEP UP WITH OTHERS.

ALSO, WE MUST ALL REALIZE, YOU MUST REALIZE, THAT THE KEY TO PROGRESS IS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE OF THE WORLD TODAY. EVERYDAY, WE MUST BE ABLE TO COPE WITH NEW WAYS OF ORGANIZING AND UTILIZING INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS OF GROWTH, STABILITY, AND SURVIVAL. THOSE WHO CANNOT KEEP UP WILL FALL ALONG THE WAYSIDE.

WE LIVE IN A RAPID STREAM OF PERPETUAL CHANGE. THIS MEANS WE MUST KEEP ON TRAINING OURSELVES, CHASING KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING MULTIPLE JOBS AND DEALING WITH COMPLEX PROBLEMS. IT IS AN AWESOME CHALLENGE AND RESPONSIBILITY AND IT NEVER RELENTS. IN LINE WITH THESE IMPERATIVES, WE NEED TO PROVIDE ALL FILIPINOS WITH QUALITY AND RELEVANT EDUCATION. WE NEED AN EMPOWERED AND LITERATE CITIZENRY. WE NEED TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WEALTH, WHICH TRANSLATE TO HIGHER SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH.

OUR VICTORY AGAINST POVERTY DEPENDS ON PRODUCTIVITY ENABLED BY EDUCATION. WE MUST STOP THE VICIOUS SYSTEM OF ONE GENERATION INHERITING THE POVERTY OF A PREVIOUS ONE AND PASSING IT ON TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS. THE TASK BEGINS IN OUR SCHOOLS. OUR GOAL IS FOR EVERY FILIPINO TO FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

NOONG AKO AY NAGING PRESIDENTE, ANG DINATNAN KONG UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AY 11.3 PERCENT. PAGKATAPOS NG ISANG TAONG PAGKA-PRESIDENTE KO, ITONG UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AY BUMABA SA 10.3 PERCENT DAHIL NADAGDAGAN NG TRABAHO PARA SA ISANG MILYON AT KALAHATING PILIPINO.

NGUNIT ANG 10.3 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AY MATAAS PA RIN. AT ANG NAPAKATAAS NA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AY NANDOON SA METRO MANILA -- HALOS 20 PERCENT, KAYA MARAMING DISSATISFIED NGAYON SA METRO MANILA. KAILANGAN PA TAYONG MAGHANAP NG TRABAHO PARA SA DALAWANG MILYON AT KALAHATI PANG PILIPINO PAGDATING NG 2004, OR GOING INTO 2004. AND TO DO THIS, WE WILL VIGOROUSLY PURSUE EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, EMPLOYMENT PRESERVATION, EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION.

EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, THIS MEANS CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LABOR MARKET THROUGH FOUR COMPONENTS OF OUR MEDIUM-TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO FIGHT POVERTY.

THE FIRST COMPONENT OF OUR MEDIUM-TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO FIGHT POVERTY IS A PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE APPROPRIATE TO THE 21st CENTURY. UNDER THIS PHILOSOPHY, THE WAY TO FIGHT POVERTY IS TO CREATE JOBS.

TO CREATE JOBS, WE MUST ATTRACT INVESTMENTS.

TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS, WE MUST ATTEND TO MACRO-MEASURES AND CONCERNS. WE ARE ATTENDING, WE MUST ATTEND TO BASICS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR PRIORITIES INCLUDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF AGRICULTURE AND MASS TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS WILL CREATE ENGINEERING AND OTHER JOBS IN CONSTRUCTION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT.

KAYA NAKITA KO MAY MGA ENGINEERING DITO, ÔDI BA, SA LINYANG ITO? SO I HOPE YOU WILL FIND THOSE JOBS BECAUSE WE ARE PROMOTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WILL FURTHER EXPLORE LABOR-INTENSIVE ACTIVITIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. KASI MAY INFRASTRUCTURE NA CAPITAL-INTENSIVE, MAY INFRASTRUCTURE NA LABOR-INTENSIVE ANG PAG-CONSTRUCT. KAYA SABI KO KAY SECRETARY DATUMANONG, DAPAT LABOR-INTENSIVE ANG ATING MGA METHODS.

ALSO, IN PURSUING THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE TO CREATE JOBS, WE ARE DESIGNING POLICIES TO DEVELOP OUR CAPITAL MARKET. WE WILL SET UP A SECONDARY HOUSING MORTGAGE MARKET, AN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND A PROVIDENT FUND FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. THIS WILL CREATE JOBS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

AND, INDEED, IN METRO MANILA -- KASI NAGDADALA AKO NG JOBS FAIR TUWING MAYROON AKONG GRADUATION CEREMONY -- DOON SA METRO MANILA, OUR JOBS FAIR FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS ARE PRODUCING MANY JOBS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

PREPARING OUR GROWTH SECTORS FOR THE FUTURE ENABLES US TO TAP THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE 21st CENTURY TO CREATE JOBS. WE ARE PROMOTING FAST GROWING INDUSTRIES WHERE HIGH VALUE JOBS ARE MOST PLENTIFUL. ONE OF THEM, AS I SAID EARLIER, IS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OR ICT. AND I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE IN THIS ROW, RIGHT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GRADUATING STUDENTS.

OUR ENGLISH LITERACY AND THE APTITUDE AND SKILLS OF OUR GREAT FILIPINO WORKERS GIVE US A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN ICT. FILIPINO WORKERS ARE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE FIELD OF ICT IN THE WORLD TODAY -- NUMBER ONE AMONG KNOWLEDGE WORKERS. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF OUR KNOWLEDGE WORKERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ICT SECTOR WHERE HIGH VALUE POSTINGS ARE MOST PLENTIFUL.

LET ME GIVE YOU EXAMPLES: EVEN NOW, THERE ARE ALREADY MANY JOBS AVAILABLE IN ICT. THE LOWEST PAYING JOB IN ICT, THE SIMPLEST JOB, IS THE JOB FOR CALL CENTER AGENTS. BUT THESE CALL CENTER AGENTS, MANY OF THEM EARN A STARTING SALARY OF P15.000 AT IYAN ANG PINAKA-SIMPLE PA SA ICT. THEN WE GO TO THE MOST SOPHISTICATED JOBS IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT WHERE ANALYSTS SAY WE AND INDIA ARE THE TWO COUNTRIES WHICH WILL MOST LIKELY BE THE CENTERS OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN ICT IN THIS COMING DECADE.

WE ARE ONE OF TWO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AS THE LIKELY WORLD CENTERS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DECADE KAYA DOON TAYO PINAGHAHANAP NG TRABAHO.

AND TO PREPARE OUR YOUTH TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF KNOWLEDGE WORKERS, WE ARE UPGRADING MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING IN BASIC EDUCATION, AND ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION. THIS CREATES JOBS FOR TEACHERS, 20,000 NEW ITEMS THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN MATH AND SCIENCE. AND I SEE IN THIS ROW, WE HAVE OUR EDUCATION GRADUATES.

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AS REQUIRED BY THE NEW ECONOMY, WE ARE ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEXTBOOKS PER STUDENT. THIS CREATES JOBS IN THE PAPER AND PRINTING INDUSTRY.

ASIDE FROM ICT, WE ALSO HAVE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TOURISM, IN THE NATURAL WONDERS OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE NATURAL WARMTH OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE PROMOTING TOURISM AS A KEY EMPLOYMENT GENERATOR.

I UNDERSTAND THAT HERE IN LUCENA WHERE YOU ARE LUCKY YOU ALREADY HAVE A HOTEL -- ANO IYON, QUEEN MARGARET HOTEL BA ANG TAWAG DOON? EH, DOON NGA SA LEGASPI, MAY MT. MAYON SILA WALA NAMAN SILANG HOTEL. KAILANGAN TALAGA ANG HOTEL PARA SA TOURISM. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE OTHER HOTELS COMING UP AS WELL, SO THESE ARE JOBS THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

YESTERDAY IN BATAAN, I LEARNED THAT THE RESORTS IN BATAAN ARE FULLY BOOKED FOR THE SUMMER. OUR HOLIDAY ECONOMICS IS WORKING, AND I HOPE IT IS THE SAME IN QUEZON PROVINCE.

KANINA, NANDOON KAMI NI GOVERNOR ENVERGA SA BONDOC PENINSULA. SABI NUNG ANAK NG MAYOR NG BUENAVISTA, ÒTHANK YOU FOR LETTING THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPTION OF WORKING FOUR DAYS A WEEK, TEN HOURS A DAY. NOW, I AM SO SUNBURNED BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS WITH MY FATHER GOING OUT FOR WEEKEND VACATIONS.Ó KAYA TALAGANG UMUUBRA IYONG HOLIDAY ECONOMICS KAHIT NA NAGBABATIKOS IYONG MGA TAO SA AKIN.

ASIDE FROM THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE, THE SECOND COMPONENT OF OUR MEDIUM-TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO FIGHT POVERTY IS AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION FOUNDED ON SOCIAL EQUITY. WE EXPECT AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION TO GENERATE ONE MILLION NEW JOBS.

THE THIRD COMPONENT OF OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY IS A SOCIAL BIAS IN OUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS WILL CREATE FURTHER JOB OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASS HOUSING. TAUN-TAON, MAGTATAYO NG ISANDAANG LIBONG TIRAHAN PARA SA MGA MANGGAGAWA AT LIMAMPUNG LIBONG PABAHAY PARA SA HIGIT NA MARALITA. KAYA MAYROON TAYONG EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES SA CONSTRUCTION SA HOUSING INDUSTRY. AT MAYROON TAYONG ESPESYAL NA PROYEKTO PARA SA MGA KABATAANG MARALITA NG MGA LUNGSOD NA HINDI NA MAKAKAPAG-ARAL NGUNIT WALA PA SILANG TRABAHO -- IYONG OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH -- ITO AY IYONG EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. MAAARI SILANG MAGTAGPI NG BUBONG, MAG-AYOS NG RAILING, MAG-GUWARDIYA NG ESKUWELAHAN SA KANILANG BARANGAY, MAGLINIS NG KALSADA O ESTERO O IBA PANG EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT. PERO KAYO, HINDI KAYO MAGE-EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT DAHIL KAYO AY MAYROONG PINAG-ARALAN, AT INAASAHAN NATIN NA TAYO AY MAGKAKAROON NG PARAAN NA KAYO AY MAY TRABAHO.

TEN POINT THREE PERCENT ANG UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, MAHIRAP IYON, MARAMI IYON, AT INAASAHAN NATIN NA SA LOOB NG APAT NA TAON TATLONG TAON, DALAWANG TAON, SANA BUMABA ITO. PERO, IN THE MEANTIME, HAHANAP TAYO NG TRABAHO KAILANGAN KAHIT SAAN MAHANAP, PILIPINAS O IBANG BANSA. HINDI NATIN PATAKARAN IYONG NAGE-EXPORT NG LABOR PERO KINIKILALA NATIN NA KUNG MAY DEMAND SA IBANG LUGAR PARA SA LABOR NATIN, IPAGHANDA NATIN IYONG ATING MGA ESTUDYANTE PARA QUALIFIED SILA SA OPPORTUNITIES NA IYON. KAYA NASISIYAHAN AKO DITO SA MGA NAKAPUTI NATIN, ITONG ATING MGA MARINE SCIENCES, ITONG ATING MGA SEA ENGINEERS AND MERCHANT MARINES, DAHIL ISANG MALAKING TRABAHO SA HUMAN RESOURCE INTENSIVE, SKILLS INTENSIVE SERVICE SECTOR AY IYONG ATING SEAFARER PROFESSIONALS.

AT ISA RIN, DAHIL IYONG MGA NAG-PRACTICE NG POPULATION PLANNING NUNG LAST GENERATION, NGAYON MATATANDA NA IYONG POPULATION NA IYON -- THEY'RE AN AGING POPULATION, KULANG NAMAN SILA SA POPULATION OF THE PRODUCTIVE AGE DAHIL NAG-FAMILY PLANNING NGA EH, BUMABA IYONG BIRTHRATE -- KULANG TULOY NG MGA NURSES NA MAG-AALAGA SA MGA MATATANDA. SO, THEREFORE, THERE IS AGAIN THAT OTHER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. AND I CONGRATULATE ENVERGA UNIVERSITY DAHIL SA DARATING NA SCHOOL YEAR, KAYO AY MAGKAKAROON NA NG BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PARA DADAMI PA LALO ANG TRABAHO NG ATING KABATAAN NG LALAWIGAN NG QUEZON.

HINDI LAMANG IYON, SABI NI WILLY, ITONG BACHELOR OF SCIENCE KASI FOUR YEARS IYAN, AY NAKU, PAGKATAPOS NA NG FOUR YEARS DAMI NIYONG TRABAHONG OPPORTUNITIES SA IBA'T IBANG LUGAR NG MUNDO, AND I HOPE BY FOUR YEARS PATI DITO SA PILIPINAS.

PERO MAYROON DIN MGA SHORT TERM COURSES, SABI NI WILLY, IYONG CAREGIVERS. KAYA ITO, HINDI NATIN PATAKARAN NA MAGBENTA NG LABOR SA IBANG BANSA PERO KUNG MAYROONG NAGHA-HIRE, PATAKARAN NATIN NA I-QUALIFY ANG ATING LABOR FORCE SA MGA OPPORTUNITIES NA IYON.

DAPAT NGANG MAGKAROON TAYO NG BAGONG SISTEMA DIN NG PAG-AASIKASO NG BASURA. PATAKARAN DIN IYON. KAYA NGAYON PINAPAIRAL NATIN ANG RECYCLING AT ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT GAYA NG SINIMULAAN NA SA SMOKEY MOUNTAIN AT SINISIMULAN NA SA MONTALBAN SA RIZAL. SO THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AY NAGBIBIGAY DIN NG TRABAHO. ETO NAKITA KO, OPENING OF BACHELOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SA JUNE 2002. SANA MAKAKAPAG-ARAL DIN ANG MGA ESTUDYANTE DITO NG YUN NA NGA, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF WASTE. AT IYON AY ISANG MALAKING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY RIN SA DARATING NA PANAHON DAHIL SA ATING INCREASING URBANIZATION.

WHETHER IN THE URBAN AREAS OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, WE WILL MAKE MICROFINANCE A CORNERSTONE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. ANG IBIG SABIHIN NITO, MALILIIT NA PALUWAGAN PARA SA MALILIIT NA NEGOSYO -- SELF-EMPLOYMENT. KAYA KUNG BALAK NATIN NA MAGBIGAY NG PALUWAGAN SA TATLONG DAANG LIBONG KABABAIHAN BAWAT TAON, IBIG SABIHIN NITO AY TRABAHO PARA SA TATLONG DAANG LIBO BAWAT TAON. ITONG MICRO FINANCING, IYONG NEGOSYO AY MALIIT, YOU DO NOT HIRE OTHERS -- IKAW LANG. PARANG IKAW AY ISANG SEAMSTRESS NA NAGTATANGGAP NG ORDERS O MANIKURISTA NA NAGHO-HOME SERVICE O GUMAGAWA KA NG FISHBALL -- IYONG IKAW LANG -- GANOON KALIIT. SO YOU DON'T HIRE OTHERS, BUT YOU EMPLOY YOURSELF. IYAN ANG ISANG MALAKING GINAGAMIT NATING PATAKARAN DIN FOR EMPLOYMENT.

KAYA ITONG ARAW NA ITO AY NAGDALA AKO NG JOBS FAIR DIN DITO SA INYONG GRADUATION. AT GUSTO KONG IPAHAYAG SO FAR ANG RESULTA: MAYROON KAYONG 145 NA NAG-REGISTER PARA SA JOBS FAIR, IYONG ANIM AY NA-HIRE NA, AT MAY SIYAM NA NAG-REGISTER SA TLRC PARA NGA DITO SA MICROFINANCE. ITONG JOBS FAIR AY ONGOING PA RIN AT ITO ITUTULOY AFTER TODAY, TULOY PA RIN ITO DOON SA PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE NG DOLE DITO SA LUCENA.

NGAYON, IBA PANG PROGRAMA NATIN NA NAGBIBIGAY NG TRABAHO. WALA PANG KURYENTE ANG MARAMI NATING BARANGAY KAYA ARAW-ARAW NAGKAKABIT TAYO NG KURYENTE SA APAT NA BARANGAY, FOUR BARANGAYS A DAY UNTIL THE END OF MY TERM IN 2004. ITO AY NAGBIBIGAY RIN NG TRABAHO MAGING SA CONSTRUCTION AT MAGING DIN SA MGA BAGONG PAGKAKATAON NA NAGBIBIGAY NG ISANG PAMAYANAN NA MAY KURYENTE NA. HALIMBAWA, ÔPAG WALANG KURYENTE, WALANG IRRIGATION; PERO ÔPAG MAY KURYENTE, PUWEDENG MAG-IRRIGATE, PUWEDENG MAGLAGAY NG STORAGE FACILITIES, PUWEDENG MAGBIGAY NG DAGDAG NA TRABAHO.

WE WILL INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, OR SMEs, ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. ITO RIN AY MAGBIBIGAY NG TRABAHO DAHIL LABOR INTENSIVE ANG MGA SMEs. ANG KAIBAHAN NG MICRO AT SAKA SME, IYONG SME MALIIT ANG PUHUNAN PERO NAGHA-HIRE KAYO NG IBA; IYONG MICRO, MALIIT ANG PUHUNAN AT IKAW, IT'S FOR YOU AS A ONE-MAN TEAM OR A MOM-AND-POP-OPERATION.

MALIBAN SA FREE ENTERPRISE, AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION AT SOCIAL BIAS, THE FOURTH COMPONENT OF OUR NATIONAL AGENDA IS IMPROVING MORAL STANDARDS AND THE RULE OF LAW. HOW? WE MUST STRENGTHEN JUSTICE AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER. THIS PROVIDES JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAWYERS AND LAW ENFORCERS.

LAST DECEMBER, FOR INSTANCE, WE HIRED 1,700 NEW POLICEMEN, COLLEGE GRADUATES LAHAT; AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE, HIRING 4,000 MORE NEW POLICEMEN.

TO ATTAIN OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS A NATION, WE ARE COMING TO TERMS WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES IN MINDANAO. IN MINDANAO, THERE IS WAR BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN MUCH ECONOMIC EXCLUSION IN MINDANAO, ESPECIALLY AGAINST OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS. THUS, EVEN AS WE WAGE WAR IN MINDANAO, WE MUST ADDRESS THE CAUSE OF WAR. WE MUST REVERSE THE ECONOMIC EXCLUSION OF OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THEM. THIS MEANS JOBS IN MINDANAO, ESPECIALLY IN MUSLIM MINDANAO. BAKIT KO SINASABI ITO SA INYO, TAGA QUEZON KAYO? DAHIL MARAMING PUMUPUNTA SA MINDANAO PARA SA JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

IYONG AKING LOLO, THE LATE JUAN MACARAEG, SIYA AY NAGING ENGINEER DITO SA QUEZON, SA LUCENA KAYA ANG NANAY KO AY NAG-ARAL DITO SA LUCENA, SA KINDERGARTEN. PERO PAGKATAPOS NOON, SIYA AY NAKAKUHA NG TRABAHO BILANG MANAGER NG STA. CLARA LUMBER DOON SA MINDANAO. KAYA, FROM QUEZON, LUMIPAT SILA NG MINDANAO.

IYON MULI ANG GINAGAWA NATIN: KUNG GUSTO NATING MAIWASAN ANG GIYERA PA, KAILANGAN IYONG DEVELOPMENT. KAYA THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TN MINDANAO FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS OF OUR GRADUATES, EVEN HERE FROM QUEZON.

ASIDE FROM EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, OUR LABOR POLICY CONSISTS OF EMPLOYMENT PRESERVATION, EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION.

EMPLOYMENT PRESERVATION MEANS PRO-ACTIVE DISPUTE INTERVENTIONS, MAKING THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY MORE COMPETITIVE, AND FORGING MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL LABOR AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT. GAYA NG SABI KO, IYONG NURSES, IYONG SEAMEN, ANG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENT MEANS IMPROVING WORKER COMPETENCY -- KAGAYA NUNG GAGAWIN NG TLRC -- PRODUCTIVITY AND WORK VALUES. WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH BETTER WORK CONDITIONS, REMUNERATION AND WELFARE PROGRAMS.

EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION MEANS DEVELOPING AND IMPROVING ACCESS OF FILIPINO WORKERS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ALTERNATIVES. IT ALSO MEANS PROVIDING STOP GAP MEASURES FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THE DEMANDS OF THE LABOR MARKET.

KAYA IYONG PESO -- IYONG PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE, IYONG NAG-ORGANIZE NG JOBS FAIR NIYO -- IYON AY BAHAGI DOON. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE JOB NETWORK. MAYROON DITO SA INYONG JOBS FAIR IYONG JOBNET SO YOU CAN LOOK FOR A JOB ON THE INTERNET. AND AS I SAID, WE DO JOBS FAIRS LIKE THE ONE WE ARE DOING NOW HERE IN YOUR UNIVERSITY, IT ALSO INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLING. ALL THESE ARE FACETS OF JOB FACILATATION.

KAYA KUNG NAHIHIRAPAN KAYO NA MAGHANAP NG TRABAHO -- AND I WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING JOBS -- THEN YOU WILL GO TO PESO FOR JOB COUNSELLING. PERO TALAGA ANG HINT KO SA INYO, ANG TRABAHO AY NANDOON SA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

ALL THESE ARE WHAT WE TRY TO DO SO THAT AS YOU GRADUATE, YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO LAND A JOB AND HAVE A GOOD FUTURE.

AND SO TODAY, I WELCOME YO,U GRADUATES OF ENVERGA UNIVERSITY, TO THE WORLD OF THE WORKING FILIPINO, THE WORLD OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER.

AT SANA GAMITIN NINYO ANG INYONG MGA TALINO PARA SA IKABUBUTI NG LAHAT HINDI LAMANG PARA SA INYONG SARILI -- ALTHOUGH, KARAPATAN NINYO IYON, SIYEMPRE DAPAT IKINABUBUTI NINYO, HANAPBUHAY ANG HANAPIN NINYO -- PERO SA IBABAW NOON, SANA ÔPAG KAYO AY NAGTATRABAHO NA, TULUNGAN NINYO AKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO.

CONGRATULATIONS AT MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

[HOME]