Last night as I was following the political developments in the US, I was struck by the reality that the high unemployment rate in America today is one of the key factors that could affect the Presidential race.
The unemployment rate in the US now is about 10 to 11 percent which means that for every 100 Americans, 11 are without work.
That’s bad by American standards.
But how bad is the job situation in the Philippines? In North Cotabato?
As I move around, I have seen so many brilliant young graduates from USM, the Notre Dame Schools, Southern Christian College, CFCST, CMC, Colegio de Kidapawan and many other computer schools who end up with jobs totally unrelated to their courses.
I have met so many animal science, education, computer and agriculture graduates working as sales clerks inn the big department stores and even as domestic helpers and caregivers abroad.
Just how many of our young people have no jobs or could not find jobs fitting their educational qualifications?
I would like to know because I am in the final phase of the preparation of the 9-year North Cotabato Development Agenda which, with God’s grace, I would like to put into action starting July 1, 2013.
The main objective of this development agenda is the implementation of the North Cotabato Corporate Governance which will initiate agricultural and economic activities to create jobs for our young people, especially for members of the Tribal and Muslim communities.
Education, health and rural infrastructure, especially the immediate operation of the mothballed M’lang Rural Airport, also known as the Central Mindanao Airport, will also be in the short list of priorities.
In my computation, all of these activities will create about 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during the first five years of the implementation of the Corporate Governance program which I have designed.
Where will you fit? Where will your child fit? What can you do? What opportunities are there for you and your friends?
In a post which will follow this article, we will start a very simple exercise which hopes determine how many young people who have access to the social networks and the internet are looking for jobs and what are their educational qualifications and expertise?
Join this informal survey so I would have a clearer picture of the jobs situation in North Cotabato. We will also input your names in the list of prospective participants in the Corporate Governance program.
November 5 2012
THE JOY OF MY LIFE
As a father, there is nothing more that I can wish for.
My children have proven to be my greatest joy and treasure and I am grateful to my wife, Emily, for raising them to become what they are now.
These kids are so well-behaved that there was never even one instance when they displayed tantrums and bad behavior as children.
They have remained humble and so ordinary even when I was at the top of the political totem pole in North Cotabato.
Here is a picture of them as they prepared to offer flowers and light candles for our dearly departed on Nov. 1. (left) Dr. Maria Krista, a licensed medical practitioner; (center) Josa Bernadette, a licensed nurse and 2nd year medical student; and (right) Bernhart Immanuel, a Grade 4 student who dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
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