CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–In support to the theme, “NSM@32: Revving up for Economic and Social Recovery through Evidence-Based Policies,” the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 featured the new normal employment recovery plans thru labor and employment statistical data for the economic and social recovery in the region due to COVID-19 pandemic.
DOLE-10 Regional Director Gutib said the theme underscores the importance of accurate and reliable information in the delivery of comprehensive statistical data which serves as bases for policy making and in the identification of various programs intended to respond to the needs of the community.
Moreover, Gutib thanked Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 Regional Director Dr. Janith C. Aves and commended all the workers who have produced, collected statistics reports, sacrificed and faced the challenging tasks in producing quality statistics and data despite the various community quarantines, strict health protocols, and restricted mobility due to limited public transportation.
Likewise, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Cariño emphasized the essentials of statistics as bases of the government in crafting regional roadmaps, framing policy recommendations, and prioritizing government programs.
She said evidence has always been at the core of all efforts including the socio economic plans and data serves as the foundation of government policies and strategies contained in the regional development plan and the regional recovery program, among others.
For her part, DOLE-10 Regional Statistician Hannah Marie Arreza highlighted the region’s positive trend in the employment rate from CY 2014 of 94.2% to CY 2018 with 96%. This is due to the increase in the labor force in the wholesale and retail services, business-process outsourcing, manufacturing and construction.
However, Arreza said by CY 2019, there was a minimal 0.4% decrease in the employment rate until the end of CY 2020 which lowered down to 93.6% due to the lingering effects of COVID-19 pandemic in various industries in the region.
In spite of this, DOLE-10 Assistant Regional Director Estrella U. Pahalla underscored the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) and the eight-point Employment Agenda, as the government’s master plans in the recovery of the pandemic-struck labor market
Identified programs were allocated with P1.139 trillion, excluding the proposed P24 billion budget for wage subsidy programs, for job generation like improved access to employment, livelihood, training for improved employability, wellness, and productivity to about 1.421 million workers in the country in this new normal.
The NERS Task Force was institutionalized by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who signed the Executive Order No. 140 on June 24, 2021 with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the Chair, DOLE and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as co-chairs with other national line agencies thru various programs that directly impact the labor market through job creation, assistance to businesses and training of workers.
Lined-up NSM activities are, (1) inter-agency video montage contest on 15 October 2021; (2) Infographics Making Contest on 20 October 2021; (3) 32nd NSM Best Implementer agency awarding on 12 November 2021; (4) Inter-Collegiate E-Oratorical Contest on 22 October 2021; (5) Statistics Page Contest on 22 October 2021; and (6) Inter-Agency Virtual Statistics Show on 29 October 2021.
The annual celebration of the NSM is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 to promote, enhance, and instill awareness and appreciation on the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society; and at the same time, elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)