How the Gov’t Helps Create Jobs for Filipinos

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

BECAUSE of the Philippines unequal economic's law in the ownership of industry as provided by the Constitution, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries snare more foreign direct investment (FDI) that provide jobs and multiplier effects to their people. Our country on the other hand generates primodially employement to her people through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

IFEX Philippines 2025 have four distinct sectors lining up the Exhibition Halls of the World Trade Center Metro Manila. They are the FOOD Philippines Hall, International Zone, Sustainability Hall, and MarketPlace. Aside from these main areas are the business-matching activities to facilitate seamless engagements between exhibitors and buyers (Photo and texts by Daily Guardian). 

Data show that MSME provide 1,241,733 (99.63%) jobs to the Philippines while large businesses (that included those of the Filipinos’ consortium with FDIs) gave only 4,640 (0.37%), according to the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) 2023 data.

The breakdown of the presence of the workers in these enterprises were 90.43% (1,127,058) for micro, 8.82% (109,912) to small, and 0.38% (4,763) to medium.

 Majority of the MSMEs can be found in the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 4-A (CALABARZON), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 7 (Central Visayas), and Region 6 (Western Visayas). These top five locations accounted for about 59.65% of the Philippines’ total number of MSMEs. The regional concentration of MSMEs is largely associated with economic activity and population size.

The top five industry sectors in the MSMEs in 2023 were: (1) Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (604,313); (2) Accommodation and Food Service Activities (190,899); (3) Manufacturing (140,180); (4) Other Service Activities (87,197); and (5) Financial and Insurance Activities (52,924). These industries accounted for about 86.61% of the total number of MSME establishments.

FIRST LADY Liza Araneta-Marcos poses with Pangasinan’s First Family when she dropped by at the booth of the province at the IFEX 2025 in the World Trade Center in Pasay City. From left to Right: Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Natalie B. Dalaten, Marcos, Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, wife Maan, and daughter, and the governor’s mother Dr. Grace Arlyn Guico. (Cesar S. Ramirez)

The number of employed Filipinos meanwhile in year 2024 was estimated at 48.85 million, translating to an employment rate of 96.2 percent, up from the 95.6 percent recorded in 2023 (PSA).

PSA said that the number of unemployed Filipinos declined to 1.94 million in 2024 from 2.19 million in 2023.

In 2024, about 2.47 million Filipinos left the Philippines to work overseas because they could not find jobs in the country, according to preliminary figures.

 Aside from generating 67% of total employment in the Philippines, MSMEs contributed up to 40% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024.

That’s USD 184.648 billion (PhP10 Trillion) if based on the GDP of the country in that year of USD 461.62 billion (PhP26 Trillion). Gross GDP denotes the aggregate value of all services and goods produced within a country in any given year (Statista).

Remittances sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the Philippines in 2024 was USD 38.34 billion (PhP2.1 Trillion). This represented a 3.0% increase from the USD 37.21 billion recorded in 2023.

IFEX

The government of the Philippines has been promoting International Food Exhibition (IFEX) where exhibitors meet every year at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. IFEX helps MSME a lot.

Dr. Grace Arlyn Guico --- the founding president of Project Abound -- being interviewed by reporters at the IFEX 2025. (Cesar S. Ramirez)

IFEX is the Philippines' premier international trade show for food, beverage, and ingredients, organized by CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions). It's a business-to-business event designed to connect local and international food companies with global buyers, promoting Philippine food products on a global scale. CITEM is the leading attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that conducts international trade expositions and missions promoting the Philippine brand. 

In the May 22 to 24, 2025 18^th edition of IFEX, there were 500 food exhibitors that participated. This included major food industry players from around the world and welcomed global trade buyers, partner agencies, and other guests.

PANGASINAN

Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III wanted to buttress MSME in the huge province thus his government not only encouraged provincial traders to improve and spruce up their commodities but paid for the P1 million for the three days’ affair the spacious booth the organizer sold to exhibitor in the May 2024 IFEX. The booth was even declared the Best Booth Design among the 350 enterprises that joined from the various parts of the country.

In May 22, 2025, he told reporters in IFEX that Pangasinan exibitors should make their products world class. “True to our battle cry na “Ang Galing!”. Kasi hindi na pwede iyong “pwede na iyon!”

He exhorted Pangasinenses to avoid mediocrity. “Tulad ng mga produkto dito madaming dinadaanan na proseso bago sila makabenta sa Amerika, sa Middle East, sa Europe maraming proseso at certification na kailangan na daanan. Iyang ibang MSMEs natin na achieved na iyan”.

DTI Provincial Director Natalie B. Dalaten said that this year's IFEX saw 13 participants with three neophytes. “Actually they’re all export ready pero meron tayong five or six na nag i-exports”.

She added that some are Halal and European market certified.

Participation on the yearly expo like IFEX and Manila FAME ((Fashion and Materials Exhibition) have been started by the Guico’s matricarch Dr. Grace Arlyn Guico --- the founding president of Project Abound. Through her, in May 2023, the Governor sent Pangasinan businessmen to join the IFEX held at the World Trade Center while in October 19 to 21, 2023 the governor sent 10 of the province’s “who’s who” of the MSME for the trade show’s Manila FAME at the Manila Peninsula in Metro Manila.