Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos seeks to combat the “brain drain” occurring in the provinces, which he said further deepens the inequality between urban and rural areas.
Bernos said “we want our local talent to stay so that they can use their knowledge and energy for the betterment of their hometown.”
Bernos’ House Bill No. 3124 or the “Balik-Bayanihan sa Probinsya” bill, hopes to address internal migration by strengthening local ecosystems for work and enterprise by aligning education, labor, and development policies instead of simply offering temporary incentives or financial aid to entice graduates and young professionals to stay in their hometowns.
“We need a shift in mindset, a refocusing on rural development that would help address regional inequality.”
The measure would create a Balik-Bayanihan Program that contains various components, such as the designation of provincial talent hubs that would provide career coaching, job matching, and labor market information, facilitate continuing education and professional development, and offer co-working spaces and mentorship programs for freelancers, startups, and returning professionals.
A local career pathways and job creation component, meanwhile, would identify and promote career paths in tourism, agriculture, digital services, crafts, and local public service; integrate place-based internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training in senior high school and tertiary education; and encourage curriculum alignment with local labor demands.
A rural employment linkage component would establish a Rural Employment and Enterprise Partnership Program linking young workers with MSMEs and cooperatives, remote work and digital economy opportunities, tourism and heritage-based enterprises, and agribusiness, environmental restoration, and local manufacturing.
Under the return-to-province career tracks component, local government units and national agencies would be required to maintain and publish priority hiring rosters for local government and partner institutions; offer reintegration support services such as licensing facilitation, remote work infrastructure, or enterprise incubation; and work with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to provide broadband support and shared tech facilities that would enable digital professionals to thrive in rural areas.
According to Bernos, rather than setting up new structures for the program’s implementation, his bill calls for “a recalibration of priorities of existing institutions.”
“We need a shift in mindset, a refocusing on rural development that would help address regional inequality. It will be easier to achieve rural development if we prevent the exodus of our young talent away from their hometowns towards urban centers,” the lawmaker added.
He also appealed to the youth to consider working for their hometowns.
“Masarap po sa pakiramdam ang maging bahagi ng pagunlad ng ating komunidad. Hayaan po ninyo at gumagawa tayo ng mga hakbang para hindi na magsilbing sakripisyo o plan B ang pag-trabaho sa probinsya, kundi isang viable career option.”
