On International Youth Day, DOLE, UN partners unveil strategy to address youth employment, migration

An August 12, 2011 press release by the Department of Labor and Employment

The Department of Labor and Employment, through the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, the Institute for Labor Studies, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, yesterday joined hands with the International Labor Organization, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the UN Fund for Population Activities in celebrating International Youth Day and International Year for the Youth by unveiling “Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth,” a Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund joint program aimed at addressing youth employment and alternatives to migration. The joint program is supported by the Government of Spain.

The unveiling of the program was part of an event called Kabataan: Jobs and Alternatives to Migration, or KA JAM, held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. President Benigno S. Aquino III delivered the keynote address at the event. Prior to the speech of the President, there was a presentation of the Youth Employment and Migration (YEM) Strategy Framework that is core to the crafting of a development and national action plan for the youth.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who introduced the President, was joined by officials of the UN Country Team agencies, led by UN Resident Coordinator Jacqui Badcock, ILO Manila Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson, and Spain’s Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Manuel Domecq Fernandez de Bobadilla and officials of the National Youth Commission; Departments of Education and Trade and Industry; Philippine Commission on Women; Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Provincial Governments of Agusan del Sur, Antique, Masbate, and Maguindano; private sector employers organizations; chambers of commerce; business associations; non-government organizations; workers’ organizations; and youth organizations.

Secretary Baldoz described the event as a joyous occasion, but also an appropriate one to focus attention to the 27 million Filipino youth and their important role as the backbone of the country’s human resources and economic development efforts under the Aquino administration.

“The Filipino youth have an important role to play not only as recipient of public goods and services, but also as citizens of our country. This event is an opportunity for them to empower themselves and be part of the national development agenda. As they are entitled to their rights, they, too, have responsibilities to help shape our future,” Baldoz said.

The one-day event was highlighted by four talk shows, called “jamming sessions,” featuring speakers on youth issues and concerns. The jamming sessions have appropriate thematic themes, such as, “Walang Iwanan! Every Youth Counts”; “Kuha Mo! Turning Information into Opportunities”; “Saan Ka Pa! A Conversation on Youth Migration; and Ikaw Na! Skills to Succeed. There were exhibits and a video showing; the signing of a partners’ agreement on entrepreneurship and technical vocational training; a closing plenary; and a KA JAM concert planned for later in the evening.