Latest news with #PhilippineDevelopmentPlan
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Philippines' jobless rate rises to 4.1 per cent in April
MANILA (Xinhua): The Philippines' unemployment rate in April rose to 4.1 per cent, up from 3.9 per cent in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday. PSA Chief Dennis Mapa told a press conference that an estimated 2.06 million Filipinos were out of work in April this year, higher than the number of unemployed people in April 2024 at 2.04 million. Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development officer in charge and Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon said in a statement that the Philippine labor market continues to demonstrate resilience amid global headwinds. "We remain on track to meet our target unemployment range of 4.4 to 4.7 percent set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028," she said. Meanwhile, the Philippines' gross international reserves rose slightly to US$105.5 billion at the end of May from US$105.3 billion a month earlier, the central bank said on Friday, citing preliminary data. The forex reserves represent an external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.3 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income, which the central bank said was robust. - Xinhua
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Jobless Filipinos rose to 2.06M in April 2025, says PSA
The number of Filipinos without jobs or livelihoods rose to over two million in April 2025 as more people entered the labor force, seeking jobs, during the period but only few were absorbed by the market, according to the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority's latest Labor Force Survey. At a press briefing on Friday, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa reported that unemployed persons, ages 15 and above, increased slightly to 2.06 million in the fourth month of the year from 1.93 million in March 2025. Year-on-year, jobless individuals climbed by 23,000 from 2.04 million in April 2024, according to the PSA chief. As a percentage of 50.74 million participants in the labor force —who are actively looking for labor opportunities during the period — the number of unemployed persons translated to an unemployment rate of 4.1%, up from 3.9% in March and 4% in April last year. 'Dumami kasi ang mga kasama sa labor force, labor force participation, so siya 'yung factor… 'pag tumataas ang labor force participation, hindi naman lahat na-absorb lahat para maging employed persons,' Mapa said. (The increase in the number of those joining the labor force was the factor… when labor force participation rises, not everyone is absorbed to become employed persons.) Labor force participants grew by 340,000 from April 2024 and by about 780,000 from March 2025's 49.96 million. Of the 340,000 year-on-year growth in labor force participation, the PSA chief said about 317,000 became employed while 23,000 were not absorbed. 'Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the Philippine labor market continues to demonstrate resilience amid global headwinds. We remain on track to meet our target unemployment range of 4.4% to 4.7% set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,' said Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) officer-in-charge and Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- GMA Network
Cabinet revamp a ‘golden opportunity' for inclusive road infra — mobility advocates
The Move As One Coalition, an advocacy group for inclusive mobility, on Thursday welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to 'reset' key leadership posts in his administration. In a statement, Move As One said the President's move 'presents a golden opportunity for the government to shift away from services and infrastructure that favors the needs of the 6% of Filipinos who own private vehicles to the 94% who walk, ride public transportation, and pedal bicycles.' Marcos earlier announced his sweeping call for his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations after his pronouncement that the results of Eleksyon 2025 showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government." With this, the group said that a whole-of-government approach is needed to fulfill the significant transportation policy in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, that 'pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users.' The group also expressed support for Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon amid the President's call for his alter egos to submit courtesy resignations. 'I and colleagues from the Move As One Coalition have been supportive of Sec. Dizon and his team at the DOTr because of their prioritization of public transportation and vulnerable road users who are in the vast majority. There needs to be a conscious reorientation and transformation of services and infrastructure to favor these groups in the population so that we can have more livable communities and more sustainable, inclusive and efficient mobility everywhere, including for owners of motor vehicles,' said Robert Siy Jr., a co-convenor of Move As One. 'This means providing safe and attractive travel options apart from using a private motor vehicle,' added Siy. He said that the country needs its road and bridge infrastructure agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways, to also prioritize the travel of those without motor vehicles and to reflect this in the design and operations of all roads and bridges that they build as 'Filipinos are driven to car-dependency and motorcycle-dependency, which leaves all of us with ever-increasing heat, pollution and traffic on all our urban roads.' —Ted Cordero/RF, GMA Integrated News
Daily Tribune
31-01-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Philippines Inches Closer to Historic Infrastructure Milestone with Completion of Davao Tunnel Excavation
The Philippines is on the brink of achieving a monumental infrastructure achievement as the excavation phase for the country's longest road tunnel nears completion. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Thursday that the Davao City Bypass Construction Project is set to achieve a key milestone by the second quarter of 2025. According to Emil Sadain, DPWH Senior Undersecretary, excavation works for the project's north-bound tunnel are 95 percent complete, while the south-bound segment stands at 85 percent. This ambitious engineering feat is poised to be the longest road tunnel in the Philippines, once finished. A Twin-Tube Marvel The Davao City Bypass Tunnel will feature a twin-tube passage slicing through the rugged terrain of Davao. This revolutionary tunnel will significantly reduce travel time between Toril, Davao City, and Panabo City from nearly two hours to just 49 minutes. The groundbreaking infrastructure project, with a budget of Php46.8 billion (approximately $800 million), is being supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). On-site inspections by DPWH officials, along with dignitaries including Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo, underscore the importance of this venture as a "flagship" infrastructure project under the Marcos administration. Next Steps and Long-Term Impact With the excavation phase nearing completion, attention will now shift to tunnel finishing, roadway construction, and final safety measures. Once operational, the tunnel will not only provide safer and more efficient travel but also help in fostering the growth of economic hubs in Mindanao. The Davao tunnel project is part of a broader effort to strengthen national connectivity under the Philippine Development Plan. By enhancing the movement of people and goods across the country, the project will contribute to the sustainable economic development of Mindanao, positioning Davao as a key growth center in the region. The island is notably larger than Switzerland and the Netherlands combined, making its development crucial for the country's overall growth. Flagship Infrastructure Projects Transforming the Nation The Davao City Bypass Tunnel joins a series of other transformative infrastructure projects reshaping the transportation landscape in the Philippines: Metro Manila Subway: This 33-kilometer underground railway, dubbed the 'Crown Jewel of Philippine Mass Transport,' will be the country's first subway system. Upon its partial opening in 2027, it will reduce travel time from Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from over an hour to just 35 minutes, serving 370,000 passengers daily. North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR): This 147-kilometer railway will seamlessly connect Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga, and Laguna, benefiting up to 800,000 daily passengers once fully operational. The project is co-financed by JICA and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX): The Philippines' longest bridge, CCLEX, spans 8.9 kilometers, linking Cebu City to Mactan Island. Opened in 2022, it significantly eases traffic congestion while boosting tourism and trade in the region. Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge: This $3.91-billion bridge will cross Manila Bay, reducing travel time between Bataan and Cavite from five hours to just minutes, bypassing Manila's congested roads. New Manila International Airport: Set to become one of Southeast Asia's largest aviation hubs, the $14-billion airport in Bulakan will ease congestion at NAIA. With four parallel runways, it will handle up to 100 million passengers annually once completed. As these projects continue to reshape the nation's infrastructure, the Davao City Bypass Tunnel stands as a testament to the Philippines' commitment to improving connectivity and driving economic growth for future generations.
