PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino yesterday noted the sharp drop in labor strikes during his administration even as he was spared the embarrassment of facing a strike in the Kepco-SPC power complex in Naga City, where the union aborted its protest.
Aquino inaugurated a cement mill in Cemex Philippines less than five kilometers away.
In a speech at the Cemex gym, he credited the Department of Labor and Employment for doing a good job in ensuring delivery of labor justice and working fast to resolve disputes.
Aquino noted the decline in labor strikes from 250 in the past administration to only 12 since 2010.
“This is the kind of stability that we want to have our country. It is in our hands to further improve our economy,” he said.
Aquino said 77 percent of labor disputes were resolved in an average of seven days from October 2010 to December 2014.
The lowest record of strikes was in 2010 with only one.
In his speech, Aquino stressed the important of getting the right skills to match labor demands of the investors in order to solve unemployment.
The government is trying to achieve a GDP growth of 7 percent to 8 percent this year from the average growth rate of 6.3 percent in 2010-2014.
With additional investments, more industries will be created and more jobs will be available.
He cited the efforts of Tesda which offers training for vocation and technical skilils. Over 7.15 million Tesda graduates were produced since the start of his administration in 2010 up to December 2014.
Aquino said 65 percent of these graduates were able to find job within six months after graduation.
Secretary Joel Villanueva reported that there was a shortage of engineers, electricians and skilled workers in refrigeration since most of them have already left the country or were currently employed.
The country is also starting to feel a shortage of accountants, said Aquino.
Aquino started his one-day Cebu visit touring booths at the Jobstart Philippines forum at J. Centre Mall in Mandaue City and the newly opened University of Cebu Medical Center owned by Augusto Go before taking a helicopter to Naga City.
Cemex invested P8 billion in its new facility, which employs 950 workers.
The new cement mill will increase cement production by 1.5 million metric tons each year which will bring to a total of 4 million metric tons every year.
Aquino said cement production was important for the infrastructure needs of the country.
He mentioned Cebu and in particular ongoing expansion of the passenger terminal of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Inaantay ko rin ang pagkakataon na andito ako sa Cebu para (sic) maimprove ang ating Mactan-Cebu (International) airport at ang terminals. Siyempre kakailanganin din ang mga cemento doon,” Aquino said.
In Cebuano he told the crowd of Cemex employees, local government officials, Tesda scholars, “Dungan ta sa pagkab-ot sa atong mga pangandoy”.
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