Message of DTI-02 Regional Director Ruben B.

Diciano

TNK Job and Trade Fair

Foremost, allow me to extend my warmest greetings to the Honoroble

Mayor of Tuguegarao City, Atty. Jefferson Soriano, our partners in the
Department of Labor and Employment most especially to RD Sarah
Buena Mirasol, other officials of the City Government of Tuguegarao,
my colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry, project
organizers and most especially to representatives of the business and
labor sectors, isang mapagpalaya at masaganang araw sa lahat!

As we celebrate an important Holiday today, we are reminded not only

of the historic independence of our country, but also of our long-
standing vision to free the Filipino people from the bondage of poverty.
The government, through the local government units and different
agencies, had been pursuing different strategies to achieve an
inclusive growth for all, particularly the most vulnerable sectors of the
community. Despite political differences, I believe that there is a
strong and clear consensus on the fight against poverty- a consensus
that covers labor and business empowerment as a standard strategy
for social protection and income generation. Everyone should feel
happy especially that the government takes these matters seriously
because an unresolved poverty issue will redound to a possible fall of
our national economy. Truth is, the business and labor sectors are
now considered as indispensable indicators of a strong and vibrant
society, which prompts the government to implement convergence
projects to boost these two sectors. One of which is the Trabaho,
Negosyo, Kabuhayan or the TNK, now on its 2nd year, that aims to
provide and optimize opportunities for our people. This is the 2 nd TNK
Job and Trade Fair for this year, the 1st having been held last May 1 in
Santiago City in the occasion of Labor Day.

Indeed, convergent efforts have caused structural reforms that benefit

not only certain individuals but the entire region. Figures from PSA
reveal that unemployment rate in Region 02 has gone down from 5%
in 2017 to 4.2% as of January 2018; participation of labor force
increased by 1.6% and the average annual family income also went
higher by 28%. These are the fruits borne through the cooperation in
implementing programs and projects that contribute to the
improvement of living conditions. It is not too much to say that the
TNK Job and Trade Fair, together with regular programs, has a share
to this harvest.

But we cannot afford to rest on these positive developments; we

should be happy, but we cannot be contented. We have to also
consider the adverse challenges such as a higher inflation rate of
about 4.3% from 2.7% in 2017. Needless to say, we have to do more
and the name of the game now is sustainability. Sustained efforts are
needed as a solution to increase efficiency, promotion and inclusivity.
And as the TNK remains effective, we at the Department of Trade and
Industry, are in full support especially in empowering the business
sector and protect it from any potential threat. For this 2-day activity,
some of our striving entrepreneurs specifically in the Provinces of
Cagayan and Isabela are here to showcase their products and to most
especially to inspire and encourage more people to go into
enterprising as a means of generating income and providing more
jobs. There will also be entrepreneurship seminars and a Diskwento
Caravan sponsored by 5 local companies in the region.

I believe that we are one in our goal to make Region 02 a sustainable

place to live in, where every person enjoys freedom from poverty and
where every dream becomes a reality. We just have to keep our faith
and passion burning, like the heroism of those who secured the
Independence of our nation. Let poverty be our greatest motivating
factor in life and let the freedom from it be our mission.

Mabbalo, God bless us all!