Updated April 04, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo announced yesterday that
around 5,000 new jobs would be made available to Filipinos in the
island resort of Sentosa in Singapore.
Speaking before the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry Inc. at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay
City, Mrs. Arroyo said Labor Secretary Marianito Roque was able to
get openings in Sentosa for 5,000 jobs.
“We’ve lost 5,000 jobs abroad, but Secretary Roque was able to get
openings in Sentosa for 5,000 jobs,” she said.
“So now what we have to take care of are those losing their jobs in
our export-oriented industries in the Philippines.”
Mrs. Arroyo expressed optimism that the mega jobs fair to be held
nationwide on June 12 would provide plenty of opportunities for the
46,000 Filipinos who have lost their jobs since the global
financial crisis started.
“I enjoin your Federation, with your 170-member organizations all
over the country, to be actively involved in the jobs fairs,” she
said.
The Federation has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the
Department of Labor and Employment for the reemployment of workers
displaced by the global crisis, Mrs. Arroyo said.
During yesterday’s event at the SMX, Teresita Sy-Coson, SM Group of
Companies executive, lauded Mrs. Arroyo for her fiscal policies
that have insulated the Philippines from the global crisis.
“Everyday bad news confronts us, dampening our spirits,” she
said.
“The United States, Japan, China and Europe have banded together to
tackle the crisis and the G20 nations have now reached a stimulus
package for global recovery.
“The Philippines is relatively better off than these countries. Our
growth may have gone slightly down but because of the economic
astuteness of our President and the fiscal policies she has
implemented, including sound banking policies, we are not as badly
affected as two-thirds of the world’s economy.”
Coson urged Federation members to “continue supporting our
government by intensifying our investments in the country.”
“We must draw our strength in numbers and pool our efforts and
resources together so we will make a difference,” she said.
Sentosa island is one of the main attractions in Singapore as it
hosts an integrated resort and theme park.
Resorts World at Sentosa Private Ltd., which operates the
integrated resort, has announced that it would be hiring around
20,000 people by the middle of the year.
The exports sector was the hardest hit by the global financial
crisis as worldwide demand for consumer goods drastically went
down. – Marvin Sy
