Philippine Presidential spokesman Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he was ‘pleased’ to see a recent poll showing that almost half of the country’s residents are unemployed.
“I’m glad we did not lose 100 per cent of our jobs, despite the very long time we were locked up,” Harry Roque told a news conference, according to Phil Star Global. “I’m still surprised at our strength, and only 45 percent lost their jobs. It could have been less, because full lockdown happens to us.”
Roque’s responses were in response to a survey conducted by polling stations Social Water Stations, which found that unemployment in the Philippines is at a record 45.5 percent, a record high. According to CNN Philippines, this finding was an increase in data released by the country’s labor department in December last year, which reported 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos. This equated to an unemployment rate of 17.7 percent, previously the highest in the country.
As Roque noted during the press conference, the coronavirus pandemic has caused the lockdowns across the country and brought a higher rate of unemployment.
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According to the Philippines Department of Health, at least 3,314 newly confirmed cases of the new virus were reported on Monday, August 17th. Across the country, there are now at least 164,474 confirmed cases and 2,681 deaths.
Just a few days before the newly reported cases, Duterte ordered a strictly adjusted enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the Metro Manila region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, according to CNN, because it was an increase of ‘ have seen the cases.
CNN also reported that under the MECQ, residents under 21 and over 60 are required to stay home unless essential goods or services are required.
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Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the rise in unemployment was “no surprise”, according to CNN Philippines. Labor Assistant Secretary Nikki Tutay also told CNN that the ‘super high’ unemployment rate was in line with expectations.
But Luke Espiritu, president of the Bukluran n Manggagawang Pilipino workers’ group, suggested Roque’s remarks were insulting to the country’s unemployed. Manila Bulletin newspaper.
“By expressing his displeasure that unemployment did not reach 100% and by further asserting that this was due to our perceived strength, Mr Roque deeply promised the 27.3 million unemployed Filipinos, who are currently at a loss “their toxic positivity is foolish and rebellious,” Espiritu said in a statement. Manila Bulletin report.
Newsweek reached the Philippine government for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
