After pushing for the enactment of the Free College Law, Sen. Bam Aquino said he’s focused on addressing unemployment and jobs mismatch through the Trabaho Sigurado Bill.

“Pushing for the Job Mismatch Bill or addressing the job mismatch is the necessary best reform after the free college law,” Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law, said during the Rappler senatorial candidates’ forum held at the Ateneo de Manila University on Monday.

According to Sen. Bam, one out of five Filipinos are working in jobs that are not suitable to their courses.

“Iyong unang batas na ipa-file natin kung makabalik sa Senado ay ang Trabaho Sigurado Bill para ilapit ang mga estudyante sa mga trabaho na nababagay sa mga kurso nila,” pointed out Sen. Bam, who is seeking re-election under the Otso Diretso slate.

“Kailangan ay nagma-match iyong mga kurso at subjects sa mga pangangailangan sa lugar na kinalalagyan ng paaralan, guro, at estudyante,” he added.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which seeks to establish job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.

The legislation aims to address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.