Marcos launches new Tupad programs to boost Filipino employment

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday launched new employment programs aimed at helping Filipinos develop their skills, access job opportunities, and build sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking at the 26th National Public Employment Service Office Congress in Cebu, Marcos introduced the Trabahong-Dagat, SkillPass, and Sagip-Trabaho programs as part of the Department of Labor and Employment’s seven flagship innovations under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program.

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“For millions of Filipinos, employment is the means to provide for families, put their skills and education to good use, and create a more secure future for ourselves. Our duty as a government is to ensure that they have the opportunities to pursue these goals,” Marcos said in his speech at the J. Park Island Resort and Waterpark in Lapu-Lapu City.

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He said the initiatives seek to address persistent challenges facing Filipino workers, including limited access to job information and a mismatch between workers’ skills and available jobs.

“Significant challenges continue to stand in the way. Limited access to job information, employment services, and livelihood opportunities remains a barrier to securing decent work. Skills mismatch continues to prevent workers from finding jobs suited to their capabilities, further resulting in unemployment and underemployment,” he added.

From January to August 2026, the government conducted 1,554 job fairs, resulting in the immediate hiring of 65,534 individuals.

Under the Public Employment Service Office program, more than 91% of qualified jobseekers were successfully placed in jobs.

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Meanwhile, 111,509 students and out-of-school youth benefited from the Special Program for Employment of Students during the first half of 2026.

Another 19,455 interns gained work experience through the Government Internship Program over the same period.

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Marcos also reported that Tupad had provided emergency employment assistance to 14.04 million beneficiaries since the start of his administration.

“All these efforts underscore the importance of helping workers develop their skills, gain experience, and build secure livelihoods,” Marcos said. /mcm