DAVAO CITY – Youth activists from Anakbayan staged a mock graduation in Mendiola on Tueday to protest lack of jobs in the country.
Anakbayan, in a statement, said that despite the growth of the Philippine economy, the 2014 data of unemployment and underemployment show that there are 4.3 million unemployed and there are 6.9 million underemployed.
Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan chairperson claimed that the government is not addressing the situation.
“[Pres. Aquino] knows that the problem of unemployment and underemployment is still sky high under his administration, but [he] does nothing to solve the problem. Because of widespread unemployment and underemployment, most of our [new graduates] are being forced out of our country in order to find a job,” said Crisostomo.
The group also said the government’s K to 12 program will serve for its labor export policy which “provides cheap labor” to other countries.
“Aquino’s labor export policy produces cheap labor force ready to be exported to foreign countries. The labor export policy also endangers [Filipinos] just like what happened to Flor Contemplacion and Mary Jane Veloso,” said Crisostomo.
