LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Cebu businessman Justin Sy Uy welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the 26th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress on October 14, 2026, as the government introduced new employment initiatives aimed at helping disadvantaged Filipino workers develop skills, earn income, and pursue more sustainable livelihoods.
The event, held at JPark Island Resort & Waterpark, brought together government officials, public employment service officers, and industry stakeholders to discuss employment opportunities and ways to better connect workers with the needs of employers.
Uy, chairman of JPark Island Resort & Waterpark and president of Profood International Corp., represented Cebu’s business community at the gathering. BusinessMirror reported on his welcome of the President and highlighted the role of private-sector investment in creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities.
But beyond the formal welcome, the congress put a spotlight on a bigger issue: how the government can help workers move beyond temporary employment toward more stable jobs and income sources.
Marcos Unveils New Employment Initiatives Under TUPAD
During the congress, Marcos led the rollout of seven flagship innovations under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.
The initiatives are designed to strengthen the existing emergency employment program by connecting temporary work with skills development, employment opportunities, education, and small-business development.
Three of the initiatives received particular attention: Trabahong-Dagat, SkillPass, and Sagip-Trabaho.
According to the Philippine Information Agency and DOLE, Trabahong-Dagat focuses on fisherfolk, coastal youth, and other eligible workers who need additional income and livelihood opportunities, particularly during fishing closures.
SkillPass is designed to help beneficiaries document their work experience and competencies, with pathways to skills assessment, certification, further training, and employment.
Sagip-Trabaho, meanwhile, provides temporary wage support to qualified micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help them retain workers and cope with financial pressure associated with mandated wage increases.
The initiatives form part of a broader effort to make TUPAD more than a source of short-term emergency income.
Trabahong-Dagat: A New Pathway for Fisherfolk
For fishing communities, income can fluctuate because of weather disruptions, seasonal fishing restrictions, and other challenges that affect their ability to earn.
Trabahong-Dagat and Blue Enterprise Development aims to address these challenges by combining temporary employment with practical work experience, skills training, job placement, and support for small livelihood enterprises.
DOLE outlined three tracks under the initiative:
- Dagat Skills and Services: Maritime and fishing-related operations and services.
- Isda Skills and Production: Aquaculture and fisheries development.
- Blue Enterprise Development: Assistance to help beneficiaries turn their technical skills into viable small businesses.
The program initially targets coastal communities in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Zambales, with eligible groups including registered fisherfolk and their families, coastal youth, first-time jobseekers, fisheries and maritime graduates, and qualified seasonal or displaced workers.
DOLE is also working with agencies and partners, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, local government units, and public employment service offices.
These partnerships are intended to connect participants with relevant training, maritime safety guidance, employment opportunities, and potential markets for fisheries and aquaculture products.
Cebu Fisherfolk Already Receive Temporary Income Support
The program’s potential impact can be seen in Cordova, Cebu, where fisherfolk have participated in coastal cleanup and pumpboat repair work.
In a report published by the Philippine Information Agency, Tomas Obregon Jr., president of the Catarman Folks Association in Cordova, was reported to have received ₱5,442 for 10 days of work under the initiative.
The amount illustrates how temporary employment can provide supplementary income while helping communities carry out practical work.
However, the longer-term test will be whether beneficiaries can use the program’s training, certification, and enterprise support to build reliable income beyond their temporary assignments.
Sagip-Trabaho and SkillPass: What Workers and Businesses Need to Know
The other initiatives also address different employment challenges.
Under SkillPass, TUPAD beneficiaries can build a documented record of their work experience and skills. Qualified participants may be referred for assessment or certification through TESDA, helping them demonstrate their competencies to potential employers.
Sagip-Trabaho is intended to help eligible MSMEs retain workers by providing temporary wage subsidies for up to 90 days, subject to program rules.
In Cebu, DOLE announced that qualified MSMEs could receive assistance covering the ₱42 daily minimum-wage increase that took effect on October 14, 2026. The announcement was reported by the Philippine Information Agency.
The program does not automatically cover every business; employers must satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements.
The remaining TUPAD innovations include Tropa Negosyo Trabaho, KaHANAP, Match Fund LGU, and Tulong-Aral. Together, the seven initiatives seek to connect temporary employment with microenterprise development, supervised workplace experience, local government partnerships, and foundational learning support.
Marcos Pushes for Training That Matches Actual Job Opportunities
The employment congress also highlighted the continuing problem of skills mismatch, in which jobseekers’ qualifications do not align with the requirements of available positions.
According to the Philippine News Agency, Marcos directed government agencies to better align training programs with labor-market demand. The President emphasized the need to connect skills development with real employment opportunities rather than treating training and job placement as separate efforts.
The Freeman, a Cebu-based publication under Philstar, also reported on Marcos’ call for expanded employment opportunities and better coordination between training institutions and industry.
A maritime job fair held during the President’s visit offered around 1,500 opportunities, according to the PIA report. The Philippine News Agency separately reported more than 1,300 vacancies, including 275 maritime positions.
The differing figures may reflect separate reporting or counting methods, so they should not be treated as identical totals without further confirmation.
Why Justin Sy Uy’s Participation Matters
Uy’s presence at the congress underscores the potential role of the private sector in job creation.
As president of Profood International Corp. and chairman of JPark Island Resort & Waterpark, he is associated with Cebu’s food manufacturing and hospitality industries. Businesses in these sectors can contribute to employment through recruitment, investment, supplier relationships, tourism activity, and workforce development.
Nevertheless, participation in an employment event does not establish that a particular business has committed to hiring program beneficiaries or funding government initiatives. The lasting contribution of private-sector involvement will depend on concrete partnerships, job openings, and opportunities that workers can actually access.
The Bigger Question: Can Temporary Assistance Lead to Lasting Jobs?
The launch of the new TUPAD initiatives signals a shift toward linking emergency employment with longer-term economic opportunities.
For fisherfolk, that could mean supplementary income during fishing closures, access to new skills, and support for alternative livelihoods. For eligible small businesses, wage assistance could help preserve jobs. For other workers, documented skills and supervised workplace experience may offer a clearer route to employment.
Still, program announcements are only the beginning. Results will depend on implementation, transparent beneficiary selection, access to training, employer participation, and whether participants can secure sustainable work after temporary assistance ends.
As the government rolls out these initiatives, the central question remains: Will the new programs translate into lasting improvements in income and employment for the Filipino workers who need them most?
