Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed calls for stronger job protection and income support measures after government data showed unemployment rose year-on-year in December 2025.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 2.26 million Filipinos were unemployed in December 2025, slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November and significantly higher than the 1.63 million in December 2024.

The unemployment rate stood at 4.4 percent, up from 3.1 percent a year earlier.

“These numbers cannot be ignored,” Go said. “When jobs are fewer and daily costs are higher, ordinary families feel the burden more.”

Go cited Senate Bill No. 175, which seeks to mandate a nationwide minimum wage hike, as among his priority measures.

“If incomes do not move, workers always lose,” he said.

He also filed bills to assist indigent jobseekers, institutionalize rural employment programs, protect freelance workers, and expand welfare coverage for media and entertainment workers.

“Decent jobs and sufficient income remain the true measure of progress,” Go said.