Ateneo de Naga University through the Center for Local Governance (AdNU-CLG), and Knowledge for Development Community (KDC), in coordination with the Graduate School, conducted a re-run of a webinar entitled ‘Structural Transformation, Job Polarization and Inequality in the Philippines: A Policy Brief’ of the World Bank in the Philippines on November 18, 2022, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am via ZOOM Cloud Meetings with simultaneous live streaming via ADNU-CLG social media accounts.

Over the past three decades, the Philippines has made great progress in poverty reduction and income growth, but only recently has inequality begun to fall. Driven by high growth rates and structural transformation, between 1985 and 2018 poverty fell by two-thirds. By 2018, the middle class had expanded to cover nearly 12 million people, and the economically secure encompassed 44 million. However, although the decline in poverty accelerated between 2012 and 2018, income inequality remains high, with the top 1 percent of earners capturing 17 percent of national income and the bottom 50 percent collectively earning only 14 percent.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the structural transformation had seen a shift of less-educated workers to more productive sectors and occupations, leading to more inclusive growth. In three decades, employment almost halved in agriculture while increasing considerably in services and to a lesser extent industry. The transition of less-educated workers to more productive sectors and occupations, particularly between 2012 and 2019, was accompanied by a shift to wage employment and an increase in wage earnings, which accounted for recent progress in inclusive growth and shared prosperity. (World Bank, 2022)

The webinar started with an Opening Message delivered by Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, S.J., President of Ateneo de Naga University.

Ms. Nadia Belhaj Hassine, Senior Economist of the World Bank, discussed how education has fostered inequality for more than three decades. Dr. Nadia also outlines how the COVID 19 pandemic stalled structural transformation by redistributing labor to occupations and industries that were less productive. Moreover, the report also looks at the current trend of wage job polarization and how policy might support more opportunities for employment and better jobs.

In order to better support this platform of shared learning, Mr. Jakechris P. Sicad, MBA Student of Ateneo Graduate School and Mr. Jadi Miguel O. Castroverde, MPA Student of Ateneo Graduate School, served as reactors who shared their reflections and insights on the presentation made by the speaker.

The said webinar was joined by almost one hundred fifty (150) combined number of livestream viewers and registered participants coming from various academic institutions and government sectors across the nation through ZOOM Cloud Meetings and simultaneous live streaming via ADNU CLG social media accounts. In addition, the webinar was recorded to be published through social media platforms of Ce the Center for Local Governance social media platforms.

Mr. Cedric P. Isaac, MBA Student of Ateneo Graduate School and a faculty member of the College of Business and Accountancy of Ateneo de Naga, moderated the webinar and open forum. Several questions were submitted via the ZOOM chat box, and the speaker graciously responded to all of them.

Moreover, the said webinar and live streaming was operated with the collaborative assistance of the technical support team from Fr. James O’Brien Library composed of Sherwin Perez and Emmanuel Lorin (headed by Ms. Edna San Buenaventura, University Librarian).

To watch the recorded webinar, please refer to the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/adnuclg2022/videos/522291653137511

 by Jay-Ar B. Bernardez