Gibo vows to push job creation programs if elected

MANILA, Philippines — Former defense secretary and senatorial candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro will push for programs that will create more jobs for Filipinos in the next administration’s national budget.

Teodoro said there are a number of Filipinos who lost their jobs and livelihood during the pandemic and recent calamities and have yet to be reintegrated into the workforce.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, unemployment rate in the country has remained at 6.4 percent in January and February this year, which means more than three million Filipinos do not have jobs.

“We have to allocate budget in the next General Appropriations Act for programs that will help in redeploying those who lost their jobs during the pandemic and recent typhoons that hit the country,” the former Tarlac congressman and 1989 Bar topnotcher said.

“There are programs like TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program of the Department of Labor and Employment and the zero-interest CARES (COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises) loan of the Department of Trade and Industry,” he added.

“We need to continue to support to help our countrymen get back their jobs and livelihood,” he said.

Teodoro said he would advocate government programs that generate jobs and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.