Media Release
October 31, 2024
On October 24 (Thursday), at their 13th annual flagship Arangkada Philippines Forum, the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) brought together hundreds of public and private sector leaders to discuss reforms and strategies to upskill the country’s workforce and accelerate economic growth, in light of demographic shifts and technological advancements. The forum featured top government officials (including Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and leaders from the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Trade and Industry, among others), business leaders and heads of business groups, and representatives from international organizations like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and International Labour Organization. It was also attended by industry experts, members of the diplomatic community, and academe.
“We thank everyone who came to discuss strategies to upskill the Filipino workforce and upscale critical industries. The forum was a great opportunity to hear from business, government, and development leaders about their vision for inclusive economic growth. We look forward to working with these stakeholders to build off this momentum and accelerate the country’s progress,” said the leaders of the Joint Foreign Chambers.
The forum started with a keynote speech from Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, who shared his insights on the labor market dynamics in the Philippines and national strategies to develop the country’s human capital. He also laid out the government’s national employment plan, after the enactment of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) law.
Secretary Laguesma mentioned that the TPB will serve as the blueprint of the country’s national jobs strategy. He said, “For the duration of the ten-year Trabaho Para sa Bayan plan, there will be continuing focus on developing and equipping human resources with the skills and competencies that will ensure their employability and upward mobility amidst the ever-changing world of work. Equal attention will also be given to ensuring employment facilitation through updated and reliable labor market information.”
This was followed by a keynote speech from Undersecretary of the Competitiveness and Innovation Group at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Rafaelita Aldaba, who discussed how DTI’s Philippine Skills Framework can address pressing labor market issues and promote better employment opportunities for Filipinos.
During the first panel of the event, Upskill: Adapting to a New Workforce, World Bank Senior Education Specialist Karthika Radhakrishnan discussed the findings of the World Bank’s Philippine Human Capital Review. Following her presentation, she joined esteemed panelists GoNegosyo Founder Joey Concepcion III and Executive Director for Talent Attraction & Development at IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) Frankie Antolin to discuss the demographic and technological shifts that are reshaping the landscape of work. The panel emphasized the country’s opportunity to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend. It focused on strategies to strengthen the linkages between academe and the business community to address underemployment, job and skill mismatch, and other challenges for the labor market. The panel was moderated by the Vice President for Advocacy and Communications at PHILEXPORT Ma. Flordeliza Cusi Leong.
This panel was followed by a special address by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, where he talked about legislation that the Senate will pass in the remaining months of the 19th Congress, especially those relevant to upskilling our people and upscaling our industries. This includes the Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime, Konektadong Pinoy bill, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, Right of Way Act amendments, and Foreign Investor Long-Term Lease Act amendments.
The second panel, Upscale: Strengthening the Backbone of our Value Chains, gathered experts from key industries such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. The panel started with a presentation from Senior Director at Coca-Cola Philippines Ivanna Dela Torre on Coca Cola’s entrepreneurship training. After the presentation, Ms. Dela Torre was joined by Chief of Party at the Advanced Manufacturing Development Alliance Dan Lachica, Chairman at the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Mike Toledo, and Director of DTI’s Bureau of Competitive Development Lilian Salonga for the panel discussion. The panel focused on the critical skills and technologies needed to upscale key sectors in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, address concerns on job displacement, and explore ways to generate higher quality jobs for Filipinos. The panel was moderated by Executive Director at the Makati Business Club Bobby Batungbacal.
The second panel was followed by a keynote by International Labour Organization Director Khalid Hassan, who spoke about the nexus between productive and decent work and sustained and inclusive economic growth. He highlighted that, “Crises remind us that jobs are more than money. Jobs relate people to each other, bring family and communities together, and provide social and political stability. (…) Our policies about employment cannot be business as usual. Job creation should go hand in hand with structural transformation, and in doing so, no one should be left behind.”
Experts also convened to examine the emerging roles and skill sets necessary to accelerate the sustainable and inclusive development of the country in the third panel entitled Uplift: Nurturing Talents for the Future. The discussion emphasized the significance of investing and expanding green and digital jobs to transition to a more sustainable economy and examine reforms needed to empower and uplift the workforce. The panel started with a presentation from Asian Development Bank Philippines Social Sector Economist Bilal Khan, and was followed by a discussion with Deputy Director General of the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority Nelly Dillera, Executive Director at GoDigital Pilipinas Mishy Co, and General Manager Emerson Electric Asia Jo-A Lozano. The discussion was moderated by Chief of Party at USAID-UPSKILL Dr. Richard Abendan.
The JFC also held its annual Arangkada Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, which honored former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual. Every year, the award honors an individual residing in the Philippines who has made substantial contributions to enhancing the country’s business environment. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding leadership, dedication, and long-term efforts to promote positive change and economic growth in the Philippines.
In his acceptance speech, Pascual emphasized that the country’s potential lies in its workforce, “One remains constant in my mind and my heart: the belief that the true engine of our nation’s economic growth is its people. The Filipino workforce is our greatest asset — young, dynamic, resilient, and brimming with potential, recognized by global companies already operating here in our country.”
He also cited the need for comprehensive reforms that can strengthen human capital development in the country. “But to fully unlock our people’s potential, we must confront and bridge the gaps in our system. Investing in Filipino workers is not just an option but a national imperative. I am encouraged, as our government under the current Administration shares this vision, and during my time at the DTI, I also made upskilling, reskilling, and upscaling of our workforce a priority agenda.”
The award ceremony and acceptance speech from Secretary Pascual was followed by a closing keynote from Danish Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin, who spoke about the Danish Embassy’s innovative program to upskill Filipinos for renewable energy jobs, and a video from Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Mark O. Go, who spoke about his work in the House of Representatives on legislation to upskill Filipinos.
The 2024 Arangkada Philippines Forum is proudly supported by leaders in the industry, including Coca-Cola Philippines, First Philippine Holdings, ICTSI, SGV & Co., Capital One, Marubeni, Quezon Power, Royal Cargo, AIG, BDO, Cargill, Converge, and Eastern Communications. The event is also supported by key business groups, civil organizations, and media partners, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Alliance, Asia Society Philippines, ConnectedWomen, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Fintech Alliance PH, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, PepsiCo, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Philippine Mining Club, PwC Philippines, Royal Danish Embassy Manila, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc., BusinessWorld, Inquirer.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the Philippine Star.
The JFC is a coalition of the American, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean chambers as well as the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Incorporated (PAMURI). It supports and promotes open international trade, increased foreign investment, and improved conditions for business to benefit both the Philippines and the countries the JFC members represent.
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