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The proposed allocation also addresses support for gig and agricultural workers and access to labour justice.
The Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has proposed a PHP47.057bn budget for FY2027, with job creation, workforce readiness, and worker protection among its key priorities.
Francis N. Tolentino, Labor Secretary led DOLE officials in presenting the proposed allocation before the House of Representatives. The budget briefing was presided over by Rommel T. Angara, Vice Chair Representative.
The session also covered the proposed budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), a DOLE-attached agency, which was presented by Kiko Benitez, Secretary, TESDA.
How the PHP47.057bn budget is allocated
The proposed PHP47.057bn covers DOLE and several of its attached agencies. DOLE itself is seeking PHP20.954bn, while PHP20.895bn is being proposed for TESDA.
The remaining allocation is spread across the following agencies:
- PHP2.694bn for the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
- PHP1.733bn for the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)
- PHP369.242bn for the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC)
- PHP332.463mn for the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB)
- PHP78.794mn for the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS)
DOLE puts jobs and workforce readiness on the agenda
Looking towards 2027, Secretary Tolentino said DOLE would focus on outcomes that directly affect Filipino workers, including more and better employment opportunities, a future-ready workforce, stronger protection of workers’ rights and welfare, social protection, labour justice, and industrial peace.
One of the programmes highlighted was Trabaho Agad, which aims to create more employment opportunities while making labour services faster and more accessible.
“At the heart of this direction is Trabaho Agad, creating more employment opportunities and delivering faster and more accessible services to our people,” Tolentino said.
Alongside this, the Future-Ready Manggagawa programme will focus on equipping workers with the skills and resilience needed to adapt to changes in the workplace.
Worker protection and labour justice remain priorities
Beyond employment and skills, DOLE said it will strengthen worker and social protection programmes, labour justice and industrial peace. The approach is intended to support faster public services while strengthening DOLE’s ability to respond to workers’ needs.
During the briefing, officials also presented DOLE and its attached agencies’ accomplishments, budget utilisation and the implementation of major programmes and projects in previous fiscal years.
Wage Order No. 27, gig workers among issues discussed
The budget deliberations also touched on several issues affecting workers across different parts of the labour market.
These included Wage Order No. 27, which Secretary Tolentino said would be implemented pending a decision by the courts. The protection of gig economy workers was also raised, alongside support for agricultural workers, particularly during the off-season.
Another proposal under discussion was the establishment of a Labour Attorney’s Office, modelled on the Public Attorney’s Office, to improve workers’ access to legal assistance.
These issues add a worker-protection dimension to the proposed budget, alongside its focus on employment generation and skills development.
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