00:00 The government sees more investments as the ultimate key to unlocking and solving many of the financial woes of the country,
00:07 made even more difficult by the lingering effects of the pandemic.
00:11 Simply put, by attracting more investments, the Marcos Jr. administration hopes to create more and better paying jobs
00:18 that would consequently uplift the lives of Filipinos.
00:21 Naomi Tiburcio has more.
00:25 Reducing the number of poverty-stricken Filipinos is one of the administration's primary targets.
00:32 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized this in his second State of the Nation address.
00:37 From 18.1% in 2021, the government aims to reduce it to 9% by 2028.
00:44 On the second day of the post-SANA discussions, the National Economic and Development Authority insisted
00:50 that the country is on track in achieving this along with a strong economic recovery.
00:55 But in order to do this, the country needs to create more high-quality jobs to raise the standard of living of Filipinos.
01:02 And for this to happen, the country needs more investments.
01:06 So that's the primary reason why we are so much into going around the world without investment.
01:16 There is no way you can improve that quality of jobs.
01:20 You need to build factories, you need to build plants, equipment, roads, bridges, and so on, to be able to employ more people.
01:33 Since the Philippines is being left out by neighboring countries in terms of development,
01:38 NEDA Secretary Ersenyo Balisacan stressed the need for the government to act swiftly.
01:43 The stars are aligned. And if we miss this time, I don't know where we are going.
01:48 Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment is pushing for inclusive employment
01:52 through the creation of the Labor and Employment Plan which is set to be presented to the cabinet.
01:58 This is where the programs will be included, where they will be focused,
02:02 or will be given assistance related to youth employability,
02:06 the continuation of the peace industry, building an inclusive and sustainable social protection
02:14 in all sectors, women, the elderly, the active force, and of course, the youth.
02:24 As what the President cited in his recent SONA,
02:27 the DepEd, SHED, and TESDA are pushing to make education accessible to the poorest Filipinos.
02:33 The SED agencies have been implementing programs that will increase the employability of workers.
02:38 Another important part of investing in human capital is the food stamp program
02:43 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help Filipino families with the lowest per capita income.
02:49 The program's goal is to, one, end involuntary hunger, two, to combat stunting.
02:55 We want to do a behavioral change so that they start consuming right, they start eating right.
03:00 Meanwhile, environmental protection and disaster management were discussed in the second session of the post-SONA discussions.
03:07 Along with El Nino and other calamities caused by climate change,
03:11 FIVOGS, DNR, DND, and other agencies shared their programs on promoting renewable energy and water conservation.
03:18 Naomi Timurusyo, for The Nation.
03:21 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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