FORMER Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman and Davao city mayoralty candidate Karlo Nograles yesterday vowed to pursue not just the creation of more jobs in the city but to ensure that they are better and quality jobs to help Dabawenyos cope with the rising cost of living.
Nograles also said that he will push for the “Dabawenyo First” policy which would prioritize the hiring of Davaoeños for local major projects.
“Economic growth is meaningless if it does not lead to a better life for the people. As Davao continues to establish itself as an economic powerhouse, it must also provide the platform for Dabawenyos to benefit from these gains. I believe that we can do this by providing not just more, but better jobs that will help families afford food and the studies of their children,” he said.
He cited a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in January which showed that the country’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent, or around 2.15 million Filipinos, from 3.1 percent in December 2024.
Nograles said the PSA data meant that more than a fourth of Filipinos do not have income or do not earn enough, which is “unacceptable.”
He said in Davao City, many Davaoeños continue to find themselves in informal, unstable, and low-wage contractual works without any benefits.
Nograles said the city government, through the city hall’s Public Employment Services, needs to be proactive in helping people find better jobs.
He also said the city government must forge partnerships with more industries such as those in the technology and business process outsourcing sectors; boost local entrepreneurship by providing easier access to training, finance, and technical support; and work with the private sector and push for local hiring in major infrastructure projects so that the people of Davao will directly benefit from the development of the city.
He said he also supports the expansion of TESDA scholarships and livelihood programs, helping Filipinos train for in-demand jobs through initiatives like the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) and Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).
