Infrastructure development plan in the Philippines to generate 3 million job opportunities

Vast opportunities are on the horizon for an estimated 3 million workers needed to realise the colossal infrastructure development plans under the governance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This was the significant announcement from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday.

During a sectoral meeting with the President focusing on the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) Philippine Labor and Employment Plan for 2023 to 2028 (LEP), the forthcoming job potential in the infrastructure sector enveloped the conversations.

The DPWH, explained Public Works Secretary, Manuel Bonoan, harnesses a hefty capital outlay surpassing P800 billion and is orchestrating across 70,000 contracts, both significant and minor, throughout the nation.

“So you can just imagine the labour force we require both in terms of skilled and technical individuals. Our estimated requirement in our programme is nearly 3 million workers, skilled and unskilled, annually,” Bonoan revealed to the press.

He assured them that “This is merely the commencement of the country’s extensive infrastructure development programme.” The prevailing regime, he noted, has introduced major prospects for the labour industry with a myriad of emerging infrastructure projects in addition to those launched by the private sector.

The so-called ‘mega’ ventures, emphasised the DPWH leader, are projected to kick off next year. However, the private realm will secure the manpower via contractors and suppliers.

The comprehensive training of the labourers will be a joint venture between DoLE and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. There is a broad range of infrastructure schemes within the administration.

“They are substantial. Including the projects under the Department of Transportation, there are impressive initiatives as well that are due to commence this year and continue throughout the presidential term,” Bonoan expressed.

During the palace briefing, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who accompanied Bonoan, introduced to Marcos the significant focus of Chapter Four of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) from 2023 to 2028. It pursues to uplift the income-generating ability of Filipinos reported Manila Times.

The labour blueprint focuses on three priorities, stated Laguesma: maximising productive, profit-yielding, voluntary, quality and sustainable work opportunities; ensuring respect for all rights at workplaces, international commitments, and human rights, and establishing comprehensive social security for all.

The LEP is allied with Marcos’ 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda and the PDP 2023 to 2028 which aims to overcome unemployment issues and address underemployment by supplying better jobs, concluded Laguesma.