The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Region 2 (DEPDev2) spearheaded the Regional Roadshow and Action Planning Workshop to localize the Philippines’ first 10-year labor market development plan, dubbed as the 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑎ℎ𝑜 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎 𝑠𝑎 𝐵𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑛 (TPB) Plan 2025-2034 on November 25, 2025 in Tuguegarao City.

The event aimed to bring the implementation of the TPB to the local level and ensure that all regional labor initiatives and job creation interventions are aligned with the goal of achieving an inclusive and dynamic labor market.

In his opening message, DEPDev2 Regional Director Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr. said that the world is changing due to technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, automation, and other emerging technologies, which constantly transform the workplace and the workforce.

“The jobs today and the jobs in the future will always be tied to technology. The workplace is changing, so we need to plan and prepare our citizens in the coming years to be able to have productive employment, enriching education, adaptive skills, and balanced labor activities amidst technological revolutions. When we plan to provide jobs to the community, the usual will no longer work. Our action planning should be able to adapt to the current situation,” the Director added.

DEPDev Director of Social Development Staff Ms. Girlie Grace J. Casimiro-Igtiben presented the strategic framework and priorities of the TPB Plan, highlighting its role in attaining an inclusive, efficient, and dynamic labor market environment that generates quality jobs while enhancing business resilience, fostering industry competitiveness, and encouraging innovation toward a 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑔, 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑤𝑎, 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑔 𝑛𝑎 𝑏𝑢ℎ𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎 𝑠𝑎 𝑙𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑡.

The event gathered almost 300 representatives from Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and the private sector, to align and localize regional initiatives with the Plan’s objectives. The participants engaged in interactive discussions, particularly on identifying local labor market situation, aligning existing programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) being implemented in the locality with the national priorities, and identifying priority industries that can positively impact employment in the future.

Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Jesus Elpidio B. Atal, Jr. also led the participation of the PESOs in the plenary discussions. In closing, he emphasized the role and commitment of the provincial, city, and municipal local government units in implementing the plan and ensuring the creation of more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable job opportunities in the region. 𝐷𝐸𝑃𝐷𝑒𝑣-𝐷𝑅𝐶𝐴𝐷