Gov't Agencies Boost Collaboration to Expand Jobs for Urban Poor

The Philippine government is strengthening collaboration among its agencies to expand employment opportunities for urban poor communities. This initiative is bolstered by Executive Order 123, which places the supervision of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) under the Office of the President (OP). This move aims to foster closer coordination of poverty reduction and urban development initiatives, thereby facilitating the efficient implementation of programs requiring a whole-of-government approach. Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos recently convened officials from the PCUP and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-National Capital Region) to discuss improvements in referring community and worker concerns to appropriate government programs. The PCUP and DOLE deliberated on available employment, livelihood, training, internship, and youth-employment interventions for affected workers and urban poor communities in Metro Manila, Rizal, and Davao. Under this coordinated approach, the PCUP will support community linkage and profiling. The DOLE will assess referrals and determine suitable programs, while the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will assist in coordinating and monitoring inter-agency follow-through. Secretary Abalos stated that this initiative supports President Marcos' directive to strengthen government-wide coordination and bring public services closer to Filipinos. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of jobless Filipinos stood at approximately 2.59 million in June, an increase from 2.50 million in May and 1.95 million in June of the previous year. EO 123 repeals EO 67, issued in 2018, which had transferred the supervision of the PCUP and NAPC to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Source: Philstar Nation