Creating future employers

Among the notable gains of President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s administration as highlighted in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) include the approval of the Sin Tax Reform Law, the allocation of P6.2 billion for flood control in Metro Manila and the 7.8-percent growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of the year.

Although GDP growth hit an impressive figure, the SONA failed to discuss the high unemployment rate in the country and how this could be addressed. In April, the National Statistics Office reported that the unemployment rate increased to 7.5 percent from 6.9 percent during the same period last year, while the employment rate decreased slightly to 37.82 million from 37.84 million.