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Advocates Philippines
Go Pushes Job Security And Better Pay As December Unemployment Shows Year-On-Year Rise
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Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is putting workers back at the center of the conversation, renewing his call for stronger job protection and income support as new data showed unemployment edging higher on a year-on-year basis in December 2025.
Reacting to the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Go said the numbers are a reminder that many Filipino families are still feeling the strain despite seemingly stable month-to-month data.
“Hindi puwedeng balewalain ang mga numerong ito, lalo na kung ikukumpara natin ang sitwasyon ng mga manggagawa ngayon kumpara noong nakaraang taon,” Go said. “Kapag mas kaunti ang may trabaho at mas mataas ang gastos sa pang-araw-araw na buhay, mas ramdam ng ordinaryong pamilya ang bigat.”
PSA data showed that 2.26 million Filipinos were unemployed in December 2025, slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November. While the unemployment rate stayed at 4.4%—unchanged from the previous month—it was notably higher than the 3.1% posted in December 2024. Employment also declined year-on-year, with 49.43 million Filipinos employed in December 2025 compared to 50.19 million a year earlier.
Against this backdrop, Go stressed the urgency of passing legislation that directly protects jobs and boosts workers’ incomes, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
One of his priority measures in the 20th Congress is Senate Bill No. 175, which seeks to mandate a nationwide minimum wage increase.
“Ang sahod ng manggagawa dapat sumasabay sa totoong gastos sa pamumuhay,” he said. “Kung hindi gagalaw ang kita, palaging talo ang mga empleyado.”
To help jobseekers—particularly the poor—Go also filed SBN 174, or the Indigent Jobseekers Assistance bill, which proposes subsidies for expenses such as transportation and documentary requirements.
“Maraming gustong magtrabaho pero nauubos ang kaunting pera sa pag-aasikaso ng requirements,” Go explained. “Dapat tulungan ang mahihirap na makapasok sa trabaho, hindi pahirapan.”
He likewise underscored the importance of immediate income support for displaced workers through SBN 177, the Rural Employment Assistance or TUPAD bill, which aims to institutionalize temporary employment programs in rural areas.
“Kapag nawalan ng hanapbuhay, ramdam agad ang epekto,” Go said. “Kailangan may agarang tulong habang naghahanap ng mas pangmatagalang trabaho.”
Go also pointed to sector-specific concerns, including SBN 667, the Media and Entertainment Workers’ Welfare bill, designed to strengthen protection and benefits for workers with irregular employment.
“Hindi permanente ang trabaho ng marami sa media at entertainment,” he said. “Dapat malinaw ang proteksyon at benepisyo para sa kanila.”
For freelancers and gig workers, Go authored SBN 670, or the Freelance Workers Protection Act, to safeguard payment rights and penalize non-paying clients.
“Trabaho pa rin ang freelancing,” he said. “Hindi puwedeng palaging naiiwan sa alanganin ang bayad ng mga nagseserbisyo.”
Meanwhile, PSA data showed the services sector continued to dominate employment at 62.4%, followed by agriculture at 20.7% and industry at 16.9%. Despite some month-on-month gains, year-on-year declines were recorded in construction, transportation and storage, fishing and aquaculture, manufacturing, and agriculture and forestry.
For Go, these trends highlight the need to look beyond short-term figures.
“Hindi sapat ang tingnan lang ang buwan-sa-buwan,” he said. “Mas mahalaga ang pangmatagalang direksyon ng trabaho at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino.”
He concluded by stressing that true progress must be felt by ordinary workers.
“Sa huli, ang sukatan ng pag-unlad ay kung may disenteng trabaho at sapat na kita ang bawat Pilipino,” the senator said.
Reacting to the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Go said the numbers are a reminder that many Filipino families are still feeling the strain despite seemingly stable month-to-month data.
“Hindi puwedeng balewalain ang mga numerong ito, lalo na kung ikukumpara natin ang sitwasyon ng mga manggagawa ngayon kumpara noong nakaraang taon,” Go said. “Kapag mas kaunti ang may trabaho at mas mataas ang gastos sa pang-araw-araw na buhay, mas ramdam ng ordinaryong pamilya ang bigat.”
PSA data showed that 2.26 million Filipinos were unemployed in December 2025, slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November. While the unemployment rate stayed at 4.4%—unchanged from the previous month—it was notably higher than the 3.1% posted in December 2024. Employment also declined year-on-year, with 49.43 million Filipinos employed in December 2025 compared to 50.19 million a year earlier.
Against this backdrop, Go stressed the urgency of passing legislation that directly protects jobs and boosts workers’ incomes, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
One of his priority measures in the 20th Congress is Senate Bill No. 175, which seeks to mandate a nationwide minimum wage increase.
“Ang sahod ng manggagawa dapat sumasabay sa totoong gastos sa pamumuhay,” he said. “Kung hindi gagalaw ang kita, palaging talo ang mga empleyado.”
To help jobseekers—particularly the poor—Go also filed SBN 174, or the Indigent Jobseekers Assistance bill, which proposes subsidies for expenses such as transportation and documentary requirements.
“Maraming gustong magtrabaho pero nauubos ang kaunting pera sa pag-aasikaso ng requirements,” Go explained. “Dapat tulungan ang mahihirap na makapasok sa trabaho, hindi pahirapan.”
He likewise underscored the importance of immediate income support for displaced workers through SBN 177, the Rural Employment Assistance or TUPAD bill, which aims to institutionalize temporary employment programs in rural areas.
“Kapag nawalan ng hanapbuhay, ramdam agad ang epekto,” Go said. “Kailangan may agarang tulong habang naghahanap ng mas pangmatagalang trabaho.”
Go also pointed to sector-specific concerns, including SBN 667, the Media and Entertainment Workers’ Welfare bill, designed to strengthen protection and benefits for workers with irregular employment.
“Hindi permanente ang trabaho ng marami sa media at entertainment,” he said. “Dapat malinaw ang proteksyon at benepisyo para sa kanila.”
For freelancers and gig workers, Go authored SBN 670, or the Freelance Workers Protection Act, to safeguard payment rights and penalize non-paying clients.
“Trabaho pa rin ang freelancing,” he said. “Hindi puwedeng palaging naiiwan sa alanganin ang bayad ng mga nagseserbisyo.”
Meanwhile, PSA data showed the services sector continued to dominate employment at 62.4%, followed by agriculture at 20.7% and industry at 16.9%. Despite some month-on-month gains, year-on-year declines were recorded in construction, transportation and storage, fishing and aquaculture, manufacturing, and agriculture and forestry.
For Go, these trends highlight the need to look beyond short-term figures.
“Hindi sapat ang tingnan lang ang buwan-sa-buwan,” he said. “Mas mahalaga ang pangmatagalang direksyon ng trabaho at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino.”
He concluded by stressing that true progress must be felt by ordinary workers.
“Sa huli, ang sukatan ng pag-unlad ay kung may disenteng trabaho at sapat na kita ang bawat Pilipino,” the senator said.
Feb 10, 2026
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