Miriam vows more jobs in the countryside

Presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Tuesday vowed to create more jobs in the countryside if elected in the May elections.

Santiago’s statement was in response to an online survey released by the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with online employment company Jobstreet.com Philippines.

In a press statement, Santiago said that to decongest the urban areas especially Metro Manila, as well as to lower the number of Filipinos opting to work abroad, the next administration must promote economic development of the countryside, which in turn, would translate to more job opportunities.

Based on the survey released on Monday, three out of four Filipinos prefer to work in their hometown rather than in Metro Manila or in any other part of the country if there is just a job opportunity.

Santiago said that to achieve economic growth in rural areas, her administration will invest heavily on public infrastructure, agricultural modernization and attracting foreign investors.

“I commit that the Philippine economy will grow faster than ever before, and that it will be truly inclusive. We will make sure that real incomes of workers all over the country will increase over time,” Santiago said.

Santiago had earlier stated that if elected as president, her administration will allot five percent of its resources for public infrastructure projects especially in the countryside.

Santiago said among the infrastructure projects she will immediately launch if elected as president were a modernized international airport, “an entirely new” railway system from Manila to Sorsogon and a modern, integrated urban transit system in Metro Manila with lines reaching urban communities in Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

Santiago said her administration will also initiate the construction of one mixed-use government center with adjacent residential, commercial and entertainment facilities in the National Capital Region and in each of 17 regions of the country. —Elizabeth Marcelo/NB, GMA News