In the year 2000, one year from the launching of the Jobs for Economic Ehancement Program (JEEP), Overseas Filipino Workers from North Cotabato who benefited from the program sent me letters of thanks.
The most touching letters came from the OFWs who were fielded to Taiwan where apparently they found better jobs in factories and were able to help their young siblings to school and help their families.
Some of them stayed in Taiwan for good and married Taiwanese citizens while others came home and lived comfortable lives.
It was a very touching and inspiring moment for me as a leader having started a Jobs Program which offered loan assistance fund of P20-M to be help job applicants pay their placement fees.
Honestly, I would have wanted these young people to stay in the Philippines to be close to their families but the reality is not there is not enough jobs for them here.
While the JEEP Program was hailed by the Department of Labor and Emplpoyment as a model in job generation initiated by a local government unit, I still believe that our best back up plan is to support the revival and growth of local industries to open job opportunities in the country.
If by God’s grace, I will make it to the Senate, my next advocacy would be to establish a government agency, the Local Industries Development Authority, which would support emerging and pioneering industries to create jobs, generation income opportunties and boost an inclusive economic growth.
(These old photos were kept as files by the Provincial Information Office and the Human Resource Office of the Province of North Cotabato.)
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Thank You, Jun!