Pacquiao aims for better jobs situation so Pinoys can opt to stay instead of working abroad

Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday hoped for a better jobs situation in the country so that for many Filipinos, landing a job abroad would not already be like winning the lottery.

"Ngayon ang sitwasyon natin, 'pag Pilipino nakakuha ng trabaho sa abroad, parang tumama sa lotto. 'Pag ganu'n ang sitwasyon, nahihiya ako eh," Pacquiao said in a media briefing in Borongan, Samar.

(Currently, our situation is that when a Filipino gets a job abroad, it is as if they have won the lottery. I am ashamed that that is the situation we're in.)

Pacquiao added that he is hurt that his achievements in boxing put the Philippines "on the map," and yet other Filipinos still dream of working abroad.

"'Pag nagkatrabaho sa abroad, parang tumama sa lotto, naka-jackpot. Huwag ganu'n. Kaya naman natin tumayo sa paa natin at sila naman ang pumunta rito para magtrabaho," he said.

(If they secure jobs abroad, it's as if they won the lottery or the jackpot. It should not be like that. We can stand on our own feet, and let them come here to find work.)

Pacquiao reiterated his agenda to fight corruption in the government if he wins in Eleksyon 2022, in order to strengthen the country's economy and provide millions of jobs to Filipinos.

Pacquiao also vowed support for the micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a way of saving people from poverty.

"Ang trabaho ang maghahanap ng tao, hindi ang tao ang maghahanap ng trabaho. At 'yung mga tao sa ibang bansa, sa Indonesia, Malaysia, kung saan-saan man, mangangarap naman sila na pumunta rito sa atin para magtrabaho," he said.

(The job should seek people, and not people seek jobs. And those from other countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, will dream of going to the Philippines to find work.) — BM, GMA News