Senator Manuel Villar yesterday stressed the need to create an immediate rescue package for displaced Filipino workers, including those in the sugar industry during the “dead season”, amid the continuous announcements of layoffs.

“Government should waste no time in helping retrenched workers through various safety nets, including access to credit for those who want to engage in entrepreneurship," said Villar, who held a press conference at the L ‘Fisher Hotel in  Bacolod City.

“We must do everything possible to save jobs and create new ones. The global economic slowdown is beginning to be felt in the form of factory closures and lay-offs of many workers,” he said.

Labor Regional Director Aida Estabillo said that, although Western Visayas is girding for the sugar industry’s dead season, the region has, so far, been spared from mass layoffs, which her department is closely monitoring.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque warned yesterday that up to 300,000 people could lose their jobs in the Philippines over the next six months as the global financial crisis deepens.

Some 15,000 have been laid off over the past two months while 19,000 others had their work week cut to four days or less, he told Manila reporters.

He said that a "worst-case scenario" would see the number of jobless rise to between 250,000 and 300,000 by the end of June.

He described the job cuts so far, which include more than 10,000 in the Calabarzon industrial belt south of Manila, as being within the "manageable level" in relation to a nationwide work force of about 37 million.

Unemployment in the Philippines currently stands at 6.8 percent.

The government is holding talks with employers' groups to ease the fallout from the global economic downturn, which has heavily hit the country's two top export earners electronics and garments, where most jobs have gone so far.

The government has asked business groups to prepare measures to mitigate the impact on their workers and use job cuts only as a last resort, he added.

Jennifer Manalili, head of the labor department's Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, said that as a last resort government could export more of its work force.

There is an unmet demand for 389,000 jobs abroad, including more than 100,000 in Qatar and 12,000 in Kuwait, Roque said

Meanwhile, in Bacolod, Villar said recommendations of labor groups and economists for the government to earmark a portion of the P330-billion stimulus package for jobless Filipino workers is well and good, but should be supported by more long-term or permanent solutions.

The stimulus package should be transparent so the public is assured that no anomaly occurs, he added.

Villar also called on the DOLE to mobilize the services of the reintegration facility for returning OFWs as well as their families.

2010 PLANS

Villar, who is among the potential presidential aspirants who have topped surveys, said that if there is an election in 2010, he will run for president.

“I am among those who will oppose Charter Change if it will result in an extension of terms beyond 2010,” he also said.

Charter Change should preferably be tackled after 2010, he said.

Villar denied rumors of a possible merger between him and Senator Mar Roxas in 2010. “There is no arrangement, it is too early for any arrangement to be made,” he said.

But discussions on possible mergers for 2010 are likely to take place towards the end of the year, he said.

Villar also said it cannot be said yet if the opposition will be able to field only one candidate in 2010.

It will be difficult for the opposition if there are too many presidential candidates from its ranks but we cannot stop those who want to run, he said.*CPG/AFP

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