The more probable cause of unemployment in the Philippines is the unavailability

of jobs provided. With a growing population of about a 8 million, millions needed jobs

and only few can sure provide one. The lack of investors and businesses that could

provide good jobs for the Filipino people is one key factor in the growing unemployment

in the Philippines. But probably, one cause of unemployment in the Philippines may be

lack of education. With the increasing demands of the fast developing world, it is really

hard to find jobs when you are not a graduate of a particular skill or course. Though the

Philippines is a literate country, it’s not enough to be able to reach the qualifications of

most in-demand jobs because even mere sales ladies nowadays are required to have at

least 1-2 years in college. We are facing a competitive world and it’s a must to reach the

norms of development. Thus, a high educational attainment, which most Filipinos lack,

is one way to uplift the unemployment rate of the country. The unemployment rate in the

Philippines surged to 8.7 percent in the December quarter of 2020 from 4.5 percent in

the same quarter a year earlier, amid the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus

crisis. The number of unemployed persons surged by 1.77 thousand to 3.81 million,

while the number of employed dropped by 2.70 thousand to 39.84 million. Meanwhile,

the labour force participation rate was down to 58.7 in the fourth quarter from 61.4 the

prior year. Among employed persons, workers in the services sector made up 57.2

percent of the total, followed by those in the agriculture sector (24.5 percent) and

industry (18.3 percent).

K+12 system basically include the universal kindergarten 6 years of elementary,

4 years of junior high school with an additional 2 years for senior high school, the
program also aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for

graduates to be easily employed. The proposal aims to produce employable 18 years

old high school graduates by giving them a longer time to study and master employable

skills.

The system aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order to be well

prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. The curriculum will allocate

specialization in Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries,

Sports, Business and Entrepreneurship.

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a ladderized, modular non-formal

education program in the Philippines for dropouts in elementary and secondary schools,

out-of-school youths, non-readers, working Filipinos and even senior citizens. It is part

of the education system of the Philippines but an alternative to the regular classroom

studies where Filipino students are required to attend daily. The alternative system only

requires students to choose schedules according to their choice and availability.

The program has two different schematics for conducting instruction; school-

based and community-based. On the school-based program, instructions are conducted

in school campuses while in the community-based program, formal instruction is

conducted in community halls or in private places. The ALS program follows uniform

lesson modules for all academic subjects covering the sciences, mathematics, English,

Filipino, social studies, current events among others. Delivery of instructions is provided

by government-paid instructors or by a private non-government organization.

 Aside from schematics, the program has two levels; elementary and secondary.

Students have to start from the elementary level, then proceed to the high school level.

If a student is a graduate of elementary under a formal classroom system, the student is

automatically admitted to the secondary levels depending on which year level the

student stopped schooling.

The program covers mostly dropouts in elementary and secondary schools, out-

of-school youths, non-readers, working people and even senior citizens wanting to read

and write. Students enrolled in the classroom system are barred from participating in the

program. Age level, economic and personal circumstances are among the determinants

in availing the program.

The Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) is an employment-

bridging programme that aims to provide temporary employment to disadvantaged

youth to augment their family’s income and help ensure that beneficiaries are able to

pursue their education. Target groups of this programme include poor students, out-of-

school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers. The

programme responds to the President of the Philippines’ 22-Point Labor and

Employment Agenda, which calls for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

to work with relevant government agencies in order to enhance social protection. SPES

also builds on the Emergency Community Employment Program (ECEP) to create jobs

that supply young workers with income to spend on fundamental needs. SPES

enhances the employability of youth, who will eventually come to be the country’s future

workforce. Along with providing students with experience while earning income, SPES

is designed to increase employment opportunities for young people in the long-term.

SPES is mandated under Republic Act No. 10917, 9547, and 7323, with the Secretary

of DOLE functioning as Program Director.

The Government Internship Program (GIP) is a government run programme that

aims to employ youth. GIP is a 3- 6-month internship opportunity for youth aged 18-30,

who are in high school or technical-vocational institutes, college graduates and out-of-

school youth to pursue work in the public service sector, both local and national

government units. GIP serves as a training ground for future government employees. It

aims to create a competitive and experienced workforce. Since 2011, it has helped

25,534 young Filipinos. Moreover, the National Youth Commission, the programme’s

secretariat, aims to use GIP as a form of poverty alleviation. For this purpose, a monthly

non-taxable stipend, 75 per cent of the highest existing minimum wage in the region, is

provided by the government.

 Life Skill Education Enhancement and Fair Compensation Policy

WHEREAS, Youth unemployment is generally viewed as an important policy issue for

many economies regardless of their stage of development” according to the

International Labour Office (ILO);

WHEREAS, The Philippine Youth Unemployment situation has fall by 6.19% on 2020;

WHEREAS, after the assessment of Philippine Statistics Authority and Department of

Labour and Employment together with the Department of Social Welfare and

Development and the Department of Education to totally end the youth unemployment.

WHEREFOR, by the virtues vested in me as the representative of the Second District of

Rizal. In addition and supplemental to separate ordinance promulgated by the LGUs, I

hereby ORDER the implementation of the following guidelines.

Section 1. Scope and Coverage – The guidelines set forth in this policy shall cover

every Public and Private schools and companies.

Section 2. The inclusion of life skill enhancement education in k+12 curriculum –

the subject must focus on their strengths and capability (Electronics, Arts, Music) and

this must teach them on “Life’s How to”.

Section 3. National Salary and fair compensation for every employee – there must

be a standard salary for the whole nation that would be fair for the young professional.

This is to lessen “brain drain”

Section 4. An Open Job Opportunity for All – the private companies and government

agencies must inform the public in every job vacancies

Section 5. Lowering Application Standards – this must lower the qualifications in

hiring the applicants but must strengthen training and seminars for every employee.

Section 6. Time Frame – effectivity shall take place by the end of August 2021 and

will end until the total stoppage of youth unemployment.

Section 7. Beneficiary – The youth sector (undergraduate, graduate, out of school

youth, employed, unemployed)

Section 8. Activities or Projects – Livelihood Project, Job fair, education.

Section 9. Expected result – Totally end of youth unemployment.