Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest Labor Force Survey showed Friday that the unemployment rate in the country rosed to 17.7 percent or equivalent to 7.3 million Filipinos displaced due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Unemployment rate rose to 17.7%, equivalent to 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos in the labor force in April 2020,” National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said.
“This is a record high in the unemployment rate reflecting the effects of economic shutdown to the Philippine labor market, due to COVID-19,” Mapa said.
The unemployment rate last April was way too high compared with the 5.3% in the January 2020 survey, and 5.1% in April 2019.
“In terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed persons increased by five million from 2.3 million in April 2019 to 7.3 million in April 2020,” Mapa said.
84% believe lockdown worth it- SWS Survey
Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reported that eight out of 10 Filipinos believe that the three-month-long community quarantine is worth it to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the people from the disease.
According to the survey, 84 percent of Pinoys believed that the community quarantine measures were worth it, while 15 percent thought it placed too many burdens on the people.
Most of those who said the lockdown was worth it were college graduates and college-level respondents.
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Survey: 80% Pinoys satisfied with government’s COVID-19 response
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Gallup International Association in April showed the majority of the Filipinos were satisfied with the government’s response against the pandemic COVID-19.
Based on the global polling firm’s April 6 to 8 poll, about 80 percent of Pinoys believed the government is handling the COVID-19 crisis “well.”
The poll also showed only 18 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s COVID-19 response, while two percent were undecided on the matter.
The poll conducted by Gallup International also found that 86 percent expressed willingness to “sacrifice” some of their human rights, “if it helps prevent the spread of the virus.”
Only 12 percent said otherwise, while the remaining two percent could not make a decision.
Number of hungry Filipino families doubled amid COVID-19
On May 22, SWS found that 16.7% or 4.2 million Filipino families have been starving for food in the past three months due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The number is nearly doubled from December 2019, which is 8.8% or 2.1 million families.
The survey also found that 99% of families have been receiving food aid since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis began, mostly from the government.
The rate of 16.7% came after combining the different levels of hunger experienced by Filipinos: moderate hunger (13.9%); severe hunger (2.7%).