SENATE Labor Committee head Sen. Joel Villanueva said Saturday that the increase in unemployment in May could be a warning that deeper labor issues remain unresolved.
Citing the latest Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Villanueva noted that the country's unemployment rate rose to 4.8 percent in May 2026, equivalent to 2.50 million unemployed Filipinos. The figure increased from 2.41 million in April and 2.03 million in May 2025.
Villanueva said that the agriculture and forestry sectors experienced the largest decline in employment, with 905,000 jobs lost year-on-year, according to the PSA.
This comes, he said, as the country's dependence on imported rice continues to increase. Government data show that rice imports reached 2.75 million metric tons during the first half of 2026, while local palay production is projected to fall short of the government's 20.28 million metric ton production target for the year.
"While we recognize the need for swift government intervention to address rising food prices, we cannot continue relying primarily on imports as a long-term solution," Villanueva said.
"If importation remains the default response instead of strengthening domestic agricultural and fisheries production, we will continue to lose jobs in a sector that should be generating sustainable livelihoods for millions of Filipinos," he added.
Villanueva said the situation underscores the importance of fully implementing Republic Act 11962, or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which he principally authored and sponsored.
Signed into law in 2023, the measure establishes a 10-year national employment master plan aimed at promoting quality job creation, improving workforce competitiveness, supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and expanding livelihood opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk through coordinated government action.
Villanueva said the legal framework and roadmap are already in place, but sustained implementation is lacking.
He urged the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development to ensure the active participation of the Department of Agriculture in future meetings on the subject.
"Agricultural production and employment are deeply interconnected and should not be treated as separate policy concerns," Villanueva said. "They must be addressed in a coordinated manner if we are serious about improving the welfare of our farmers and fisherfolk."
The senator emphasized that addressing the country's labor challenges requires policies that go beyond stabilizing food prices.
"Ultimately, we must view this challenge not only as a matter of managing prices, but also as one of protecting jobs, strengthening livelihoods, ensuring food security, and building long-term economic resilience," he said.
