Marcos at PH-EU business roundtable: Filipino workforce our greatest advantage

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday lauded the Filipino labor force, saying that it is the country’s “greatest advantage,” according to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

"The Filipino workforce is our greatest advantage. We have a sizeable population of 107 million Filipinos and our labor force presently stands at 50 million," Marcos said during the Philippines-European Union (EU) Business Roundtable in Brussels, Belgium.

Marcos also told European businessmen that his administration would continue to support the ease of doing business and improving the country’s business climate.

He said the country produces 800,000 annual graduates across several disciplines, citing that majority came are in the field of business administration, education science and teacher training, engineering and technology, information technology-related disciplines, as well as medical and allied courses.

“Apart from the young, the Philippine workforce is distinguished by high trainability... proficiency in English language, technological skill, cost-efficiency, cultural adaptability and a low turn-over or attrition rate," Marcos said.

Marcos said the country also offers access to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market, which has a population of about 600 million and access to key markets through Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Generalized System of Preference (GSP), such as with the United Kingdom and Canada.

He said that the government is also currently working on an Executive Order on the Creation of Green Lanes.

It seeks to mandate concerned offices to establish a Green Lane to expedite and streamline processes, such as the issuance of permits and licenses, as well as the resolution of issues in strategic investments.

Marcos also cited the presence of Philippine companies in Europe, saying that he hopes to see more of these companies in the future as Europe continues to enhance its regulatory regime to remain “open, transparent, and business-friendly.”

“I would like to assure you that the Philippine Government will continue to provide support for businesses and investments to continuously grow and prosper," Marcos said. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA Integrated News