00:00 Not only the number of jobs, but the quality of the jobs should be higher than what our countrymen expect.
00:07 That's what the National Economic and Development Authority is encouraging in the face of the increase in the employment rate of the country.
00:13 But when it comes to the price of goods, what can the NEDA say?
00:19 Find out in the center of the news of Mela Lesmoras Live.
00:25 The National Economic and Development Authority is encouraging the government to continue to make progress
00:31 so that the country can increase the high quality and high paying job opportunities.
00:36 This is so that the current good data on employment opportunities in the country will be better.
00:44 Around 11 o'clock this morning, the media was asked to interview
00:49 NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and other senior officials of the agency.
00:54 According to the latest Labor First survey,
00:58 where the number of unemployed people in the country is still decreasing because the employment rate has increased,
01:04 this was answered by NEDA.
01:06 The agency promised to continue to work on improving the quality of the work and income in the country,
01:13 in line with the aspirations of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr.
01:18 As for inflation or the rapid increase in the price of goods in the country, Secretary Balisacan is confident
01:25 that now that Christmas is coming, more happy holidays are waiting for our countrymen.
01:30 This means that the price of goods will be more stable,
01:33 which is expected to be accompanied by more opportunities.
01:37 Secretary Balisacan is very optimistic in various aspects of the economy.
01:41 They are asking for the continued cooperation of the people.
01:47 Yes, we should definitely see a much more improved economy,
01:53 despite the challenges in Christmas 2023.
01:57 Of course, the inflation is a concern, right?
01:59 But as I said, we are working to ensure that we'll go to that target of 2 to 4 percent.
02:09 And so what that means is from 6.1, we need to gradually move there,
02:17 even as there are, of course, external threats, external risks.
02:22 We still don't know how the oil prices, for example, would behave,
02:28 because it's been fluctuating around the trend.
02:32 But I think that my answer to your question is yes,
02:41 we should definitely see a much more improved economy.
02:46 Audrey, I'll just add, in accordance with the proposed 2024 national budget,
02:52 which is also an important aspect of the country's economy
02:55 and in the funding of government programs,
02:58 NEDA is also saying that they respect the amendments to the Camera
03:03 and that the Camera and the Congress in general should be separated from the government.
03:09 That's why they expect that whatever the Camera will pass on in terms of the budget,
03:15 it will be for the benefit of all Filipinos.
03:20 Audrey?
03:21 Okay, Mbela, in terms of the price of rice, what is the outlook of NEDA?
03:28 Audrey, NEDA believes that the steps of the government,
03:36 like the ones I implemented here,
03:39 only a few of them, the price cap is good and it helped our situation.
03:43 And in general, Audrey, NEDA is very optimistic
03:47 that the price of rice in the country will really go down,
03:51 which will also bring other opportunities.
03:54 Because we know, Audrey, that Christmas is coming,
03:57 and our government is also hoping, like NEDA,
04:01 that there will be a better situation here in the price of rice in the country.
04:07 Audrey?
04:08 Mbela, even if the price of rice is going down or becoming stable,
04:13 Christmas is coming, and we know that people are spending and the prices are also rising.
04:19 Aside from that, the price of oil products is still rising.
04:25 Has NEDA mentioned anything about this?
04:28 Because we know that when it comes to oil, there is a domino effect.
04:31 When the price of oil is rising, the price of goods is also rising.
04:36 Audrey, that's also one of the things that Secretary Balizaha said,
04:42 that the price of oil is really important
04:46 because it is also pushing the price of other goods in the country.
04:50 That's one of the things that they're really focusing on.
04:54 And Audrey, what NEDA is saying, aside from rice and oil,
04:58 all aspects are being monitored
05:01 so that the price of goods will be brought down.
05:05 But Audrey, Christmas is coming,
05:07 and Secretary Balizaha is also hoping that there will be a more lively market
05:13 where goods are sold and bought in the country.
05:16 Because we know that this is the season of giving,
05:19 of giving gifts, and NEDA is hoping that the market will be more positive.
05:26 Thank you very much, Mbela Lesmora.
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