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Today is Labor Day. It is a day to celebrate the contributions of workers not only to the Philippine economy but the global economy as well given the millions of overseas Filipino workers scattered all around the globe. It is also a day to recommit ourselves to the vision of promoting decent employment opportunities and improving working conditions.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto recently proclaimed that due to “the continued improvements in the country’s jobs market and quality of jobs for Filipinos” the country is progressing towards “achieving the government’s target of reducing the poverty rate to single-digit or nine percent by 2028.”

A couple of months from today we will be celebrating the 126th year of Philippine Independence. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite. The proclamation was followed by the ratification of the Malolos Constitution that paved the way for the establishment of the first free and independent republic in Asia.