DOLE chief Tolentino expects Marcos to highlight job creation in fifth SONA

Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino said he expects the President to highlight the government's job creation efforts over the past several months.

Marcos is scheduled to deliver his 2026 SONA on Monday, July 27, at 4 p.m.

“Siguro po hindi natin mapangunahan 'yung babanggitin ng Pangulo ngayon pero siguro meron ding mga datos na ipapakita, na isasaad ang Pangulo lalong-lalo na 'yung Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TBP) Plan na nilatag pa nung Enero,” Tolentino, who assumed the top post at DOLE in May, said in an interview on Unang Balita on Monday.

(Perhaps we shouldn't preempt what the President will mention today, but he will likely present data, particularly on the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan that was rolled out in January.)

Tolentino said that as of June 2026, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan has generated nearly 95,000 job vacancies and facilitated the creation of more than 734,000 jobs in coordination with various government agencies.

Marcos signed the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act in 2023. The law mandates the formulation of a comprehensive employment master plan aimed at improving the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives.

Under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, Marcos aims to create at least 3 million jobs by the end of his term in 2028. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/VBL, GMA News