Gov’t target of creating 3-million jobs in 5 years achievable – DTI chief

Saying he has marching orders from Malacañang to create more jobs, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said achieving 3 million jobs in five years would be achievable.

“My marching order was to create more jobs and protect the consumers first,” Domingo said during a television interview aired Tuesday night.

“Three million jobs over five years is achievable,” he added.

Domingo, however, refused to elaborate when asked by reporters. He also refused to say whether the three million jobs generation is only for the DTI alone or for the entire government.

The three million jobs target would pale in comparison versus the 5 million jobs being trumpeted to have been created by the previous administration. During the television interview, Domingo credited former President Gloria Arroyo for the development of the business process outsourcing sector, which now employs about half a million people.

Domingo also refused to link his emphasis on SME development to jobs creation.

In earlier an earlier interview, Domingo also said that there will always be bias for industries that could create jobs locally.

In particular, he said he has asked the participants of the new Motor Vehicle Development Program there long term plans stressing the program should always have a bias for automotive companies that would ensure growth in jobs creation.

“MVDP should be crafted so that it promotes the long-term employment growth. As long as there is long term plan to promote jobs growth in that industry, there is always a bias for companies that generate employment locally,” Domingo said during a talk with reporters.

This developed as the Board of Investments (BoI), which administers the MVDP, along with industry players, is now crafting the implementing rules and guidelines of Executive Order 877-A or the new comprehensive MVDP.

Domingo made clear that the MVDP should not only put emphasis on jobs creation, but growth in jobs creation for the industry.

That is why Domingo would like to know the long term plans of the industry players to know what kind of support and “to what extent” the government could provide to them.

“I still want to have more information on what car manufacturers want to do over 5 to 10 years. What is their long term plan,” he told reporters. Domingo said he already met with the industry players once.

Already, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) said it is fully supporting the policy thrust of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to promote long-term employment growth in the automotive industry as pronounced recently by Domingo.

CAMPI President Ms. Elizabeth H. Lee stated that job creation has always been one of the major advocacies of the association. This is in recognition of the large multiplier effect of automotive employment generation to the economy and to our people. Lee cited that the auto industry has generated so far 74,000 jobs to include those in the parts and components industry with over 500,000 dependent family members. A long term growth in an already significant employment level in the industry would translate to tremendous economic contributions redounding to the benefit of many of our countrymen. –BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT, Manila Bulletin