Laguesma to bat for more local employment under Marcos administration

To lead the Department of Labor and Employment under the administration of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was a tough choice to make but it was a chance of a lifetime, former labor secretary Bienvenido Laguesma has said.

Laguesma, who served as labor chief under then President Joseph Estrada, was also in the administrations of the former presidents Corazon Aquino and Benigno Aquino III, and former President Fidel Ramos.

“It's really a privilege and I am deeply indebted for the opportunity to be of service to the country,” Laguesma said on ANC.

Joining him in the Marcos Cabinet are Susan “Toots” Ople who will head the Department of Migrant Workers, Atty. Vic Rodriguez who will be executive secretary, Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla who will be justice secretary and  former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan who will return to head the National Economic Development Authority.

Laguesma said he wanted to create a “workable formula” to balance the concerns of employers and workers and to address the joblessness in the country brought about by the ill effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said he would push to spur local employment, given the “social costs” of overseas employment.

"I would make my pitch for more employment... local employment. Because as I oversee overseas employment as providing us the needed foreign exchange remittances, I also look at the social costs that go with it—separation of family, too much dependence on foreign remittance, spending more than what you are actually earning and not saving for the future,” Laguesma said.

“I also intend to work closely with DMW (Department of Migrant Workers). I’m trying to make a link but my foremost point is that my mission should be to promote and create with the help of industry concerns more employment opportunities so that our workers will have an option really of choosing to stay with their families..  maybe not with very lucrative salaries but enjoying, probably watching the growing up of their own children,” he said.

Ople said she met Marcos on Monday after she accepted the offer for her to lead the DMW. Also in the meeting were Rodriguez and  Laguesma.  —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News