General santos city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday outlined ongoing government efforts to help more Filipinos secure decent jobs as he leads this year's Labor Day celebrations. Marcos attended the 124th Labor Day Celebration 'Disenteng Trabaho Para sa Lahat: Iisang Hangarin, Bagong Pilipinas Sama-Samang Mararating,' at KCC Convention And Events Center in General Santos City.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a speech, he said the government is aware of the hardships Filipino workers are going through daily, especially now that prices of oil and commodities are rising. He emphasized that the government is working nonstop to find ways to increase jobs, livelihoods, and opportunities for all Filipinos, with a vision of providing decent work for every citizen.

The Chief Executive assured Filipinos that the government will work to open up more opportunities through initiatives such as free training, job fairs, and attracting more investments that could provide quality jobs. From June 2022 to February 2026, government-led job fairs had assisted more than 1.5 million Filipinos, with at least 250,000 hired on the spot.

Marcos also highlighted that PHP2 trillion in investments approved in 2025 are expected to create employment opportunities for at least 150,000 Filipinos. This Labor Day, 150,000 vacancies are open for application in government-organized job fairs nationwide.

Beyond domestic job creation, Marcos noted strong government support for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those wishing to return amid the Middle East crisis. The government is ensuring a sufficient fuel supply, currently adequate for 54 days, and has implemented various relief measures, including subsidies and discounts to drivers and the public.

Marcos concluded his speech by encouraging perseverance, quoting a Bisaya saying, "padayon," meaning "carry on," and expressing the government's commitment to supporting the Filipino workforce and overcoming challenges to achieve decent jobs for all.