The farm and fishery sector was able to generate half a million jobs from this year, making it the top job generator for the first quarter of 2009. This is according to Governor Joey Salceda (Albay), the Presidential Economic Adviser.
Based on data of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, employment in the farm and fisheries sector as of April 2009 was estimated at 12.318 million, which is higher compared to 11.905 million for the same period last year.
The government has also increased spending for agriculture, focusing on irrigation and other rural infrastructure. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has also fast tracked rehabilitation and restoration work of irrigation system.
The administration of President Arroyo has increased spending on agriculture, P25.36 billion in 2007, P35.39 billion in 2008 and P46.86 billion this year.
From 2001, the start of the Arroyo presidency, to the present, the government was able to generate a total of 8.95 million jobs in the private sector and at least 12 million jobs were created through government projects, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). (PIA)
