Our country’s unemployment rate in January 2018 was at 5.3 percent. By July 2018, unemployment rate increased to 5.5 percent. Some may argue that there is a decreasing trend given the previous years, still these numbers are high.
As for underemployment, this increased from 16.3 percent in January 2017 to 18.0 percent in January 2018. We can interpret the increase in underemployment as an increase in the mismatch of available jobs to the skills of available workers. Workers are underused because work requirements do not match the qualifications of applicants.
Most of the unemployed and underemployed are physically able to work, and can read and write, but may not be qualified for permanent employment because of lack of skills, experience or education. There are jobs that would fit their limited qualifications.
The House Committee on Games and Amusements has been deliberating my proposed bill, House Bill No. 5026, otherwise known as, “An Act Declaring the PCSO Lottery “Philippine Lotto” and Small Town Lottery (STL) the Solely Recognized Legal Numbers Game.” Nationalizing the STL alone, this will generate around 800,000 jobs nationwide. This will benefit people who may be under-qualified in other jobs due to educational attainment, health conditions, or previous record of drug use. This will also prevent unemployed people to resort to criminal acts just to feed their families.
At the end of first quarter of 2018, STL generated P6.1 billion worth of revenues for the government. More than 400,000 are currently employed as bet collectors, bet collector supervisors, or bet checkers, by STL-authorized agent corporations nationwide. Most of them were former workers of “jueteng,” which is an illegal numbers game. Their employment under STL gave them legal means to earn money. I believe they earn at least P150 a day.
STL should also be regulated by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation instead of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. We should let PCSO focus on the “Philippine Lotto” and its charity programs. I recommend PAGCOR so they can focus on gaming, including STL to raise revenue and generate employment.
Gambling has been a way of life of many Filipinos, and we should take advantage of nationalizing STL to generate jobs for Filipinos and earn revenue for the government. Hence, I look forward to the passage of HB 5026 before the 17th Congress comes to a close.