DOLE says 'convergence' key to addressing unemployment

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday underscored the importance of coordination among all government agencies in creating high-quality jobs for Filipinos. 

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma made the statement during the second day of the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussions in San Juan City, where he also stressed the role of employers and the private sector in job creation. 

“Ang pagbanggit ng ating Pangulo sa mga specific na departamento at mga ahensya kaugnay sa usapin ng hanapbuhay at larangan ng paggawa ay sumasalamin sa mahalagang hallmark o characteristic ng pangkasalukuyang administration. Ang aking tinutukoy ay ang katagang convergence — pagsasama-sama, pagtatagpo, pagkakaisa, pagsasanib ng pwersa ng mga departamento dahil halos lahat naman ng mga departments ay may kaugnayan sa usapin ng paggawa at hanapbuhay,” said Laguesma.

(The President’s mentioning of the specific departments and agencies related to workers and livelihood reflects the hallmark or characteristics of the present administration. I am talking about convergence—the coming together of all departments because almost all departments are related to livelihood.)

“Sa bahagi ng DOLE at aking kasamahan sa gabinete ng Pangulo, mahalaga samin ang collaboration, cooperation ng private sector. Nabanggit ko nga — ang napakahalagang bahagi ng manggagawa at namumuhunan — ‘yun ang matibay na pundasyon ng mga gawain ng DOLE,” he said. 

(For DOLE and other Cabinet members, our collaboration with the private sector is also important. Like I mentioned before, our foundation for our work in DOLE is the employees and employers.)

During his fourth SONA on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the DOLE, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other related agencies will persevere to create more employment opportunities and fill the unemployment gaps for Filipino workers. 

Laguesma said the DOLE is implementing various “employment facilitation activities” to promote jobs, including holding monthly job fairs. He also said the DOLE is strengthening its labor market information system and information dissemination by coordinating with the media, as well as through its website, PhilJobs.net. 

The DOLE is also collaborating with local government units (LGUs) through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) program. 

“Napakahalaga rin ng coordination sa LGUs dahil nakikita na sa kanilang matapat at maayos na pakikipag-ugnayan sa DOLE, nahihikayat natin ang mga negosyante na existing na palakasin pa at magdagdag ng puhunan,” Laguesma said.

(Our coordination with LGUs is also important. We saw that their cooperation with DOLE strengthens existing employers.)

The number of unemployed Filipinos went down to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April this year, the Philippine Statistics Authority said earlier this month. 

This means the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% in May 2025 from the 4.1% recorded in both April 2025 and May 2024. —VBL, GMA Integrated News