Tugade says lack of skilled workers does not mean PH will import foreign labor

A Filipino laborer is seen surveying the skyline of Manila’s central financial district from scaffolding at a construction site in the bustling metro. ALAMY

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan –The Philippines does not necessarily need to source skilled workers from abroad to keep its ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program running on schedule, Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade said Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday blamed the lack of skilled workers for the supposed delay in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

Reporters asked Tugade if the President’s assessment of the situation would mean hiring skilled workers from other countries, to which the Cabinet official replied that Filipinos could get a skills upgrade from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“Not necessarily, because we have TESDA to train workers. They have a training program,” Tugade told reporters on the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the Philippine National Railways Tutuban-Malolos segment.

The Duterte administration, which came to power in 2016, aims to pour more than P8.2 trillion on its flagship infrastructure program until 2022 – building ports, airports, roads, railways, energy facilities, irrigation systems, and flood control facilities projects.

The President meant to emphasize the need to increase the supply of skilled workers in the country, Tugade noted.

Ang ibig sabihin ba ni Presidente na itigil ang ‘Build, Build, Build’? Hindi. Ang sabi ng Presidente, mag-train para dumami ang skills,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier justified the presence of Chinese workers in the country, saying the Philippines lacks skilled workers like carpenters and welders as many have gone abroad for greener pastures.

Merong mga skilled workers na nawawala, ibig sabihin pumupunta sa ibang bansa. ‘Pag nawala ‘yun, bawas ‘yun sa mga skilled workers na nagta-trabaho dito,” Tugade said.

Last December, Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III allayed concerns that Filipinos may be losing out on job opportunities due to the influx of Chinese workers – saying there was “no rampant” case of Filipino jobs ending in the hands of foreigners.

Under labor rules, the government can only issue an alien employment permit (AEP) if a foreign national is going to do a job or service that cannot be performed by a Filipino. (GMA News)

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