MANILA, 26 January 2021 — Labor officials and career experts will gather virtually to discuss job opportunities, including green skills training programs, in public and private sectors in times of pandemic on the 32nd episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways” with the topic, “Jobs Fair: May Trabaho Ka!.”
 
The episode, hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 28 January 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/conglorenlegarda.
 
Joining the online conversation are Secretary Silvestre H. Bello of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); David Bungallon, Executive Director of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD); Michael Edione Gayona of the TESDA Green Technology Center; and Maria Lourdes Ann “LA” Cruz, Global Human Resources Leader, to discuss job opportunities, share tips for jobseekers, and promote skills training courses that cater to the needs of a green economy.
 
In previous episodes, the online series tackled food gardening and saving seeds, permaculture, good nutrition and diet, planting native trees, practical sustainability, narrating risk to resilience stories through books, tree pest and disease management, reviving indigenous textiles and crafts, transforming waste into wages, championing sustainable urban mobility, food waste reduction and management, transforming food supply chain, responsible gardening, uniting against single-use plastic, and green innovations and technologies.
 
For this episode, Legarda and esteemed guests will share information on job opportunities, green skills, and key job competencies during this pandemic.
 
Due to lockdowns and stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, about 4.5 million Filipinos lost their sources of income and the unemployment rate jumped to 10.4 percent in 2020. As the economy opens gradually, the government is hopeful that the labor market will recover more resiliently.
 
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 24 million new jobs would be created globally by 2030 if countries shift to a greener economy. Transitioning to a green economy spurs new innovative activities that create more jobs than traditional sectors.  In the long run, green jobs are not only beneficial on employment, but also on the economy and the environment. Green jobs help protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials and water consumption; and minimize or avoid the generation of waste, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
 
This episode will encourage the jobseekers and the Filipino youth to build careers especially in environmental sustainability and climate action.