Joblessness Surges To Record-High 45.5 Percent; Roque Hit For Saying He’s ‘Happy’ It’s Not 100 Percent

Adult joblessness in the country reached a record-high 45.5 percent or around 27.3 million unemployed people in July, according to the latest mobile phone survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

This was up from 17.5 percent or an estimated 7.9 million in December 2019.

SWS qualifies jobless adults as those who voluntarily left their jobs, those seeking jobs for the first time, or those who lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.

The SWS poll, conducted from July 3 to 6 and released on Monday, Aug. 17, also found 21 percent of adult Filipinos saying they lost their job/livelihood during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

In Metro Manila, adult joblessness went up to 43.5 percent in July from 15 percent in December 2019, surpassing the previous record of 42 percent in February 2009 for this area.

It also rose in balance Luzon from 17.3 percent in December 2019 to 45.2 percent in July 2020, surpassing the previous record of 39 percent in March 2012.

Unemployment in the Visayas likewise ballooned to 46.6 percent in July 2020 from 15.7 percent in December 2019, surpassing the previous record of 31 percent in September 2007.

In Mindanao, it increased from 20.7 percent in December 2019 to 46.5 percent in July 2020, topping the previous record of 34 percent in March 2012.

Adult joblessness rose among those aged 18 to 24, to 63.4 percent in July 2020 from 31.8 percent in December 2019.

It rose among the 25 to 34 age group from 20.7 percent to 48.8 percent; among the 35-44 group from 19.2 percent to 41.9 percent, and among those 45 years old and above from 11.8 percent to 39.7 percent.

Adult joblessness increased among women from 30.8 percent in December 2019 to 55.8 percent in July 2020, and among men from 8.3 percent to 35.8 percent.

It rose in urban areas from 15.3 percent in December 2019 to 43.9 percent in July 2020, surpassing the previous record of 37 percent in February 2009.

It also increased in rural areas from 19.6 percent in December 2019 to 46 percent in July 2020, topping the previous record of 33 percent in March 2012.

The survey used mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1,555 adult Filipinos, 18 years old and above.

‘Resiliency’ praised

Malacañang said the result of the poll was expected because of the pandemic lockdowns, as it stressed that the situation could have been worse if not for the resilience of Filipinos.

“Will you be surprised that they lost their jobs when the economy is on lockdown for months?” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing on Monday.

“I am happy that 100 percent did not lose their jobs. Given that we have been on a lockdown for a long time, I’m still surprised at our resilience and only 45 percent have lost their jobs. It could have been worse because we are under a complete lockdown,” he added.

Roque admitted that the debate between officials who want to open the economy and those who are in favor of keeping it closed has been “intense.”

“I belong to the school of thought that we can live with COVID, we need to learn how to live our lives with COVID,” the Palace spokesman stressed.

“The solution really is to open the economy. Many will continue to be jobless if the lockdowns remain... If we do not distribute aid, what will be our solution?” Roque said, adding President Duterte would “make the right decision” in his “infinite wisdom.”

The Philippines has been under various levels of community quarantine since mid-March due to COVID-19.

Out of touch?

Netizens were quick to assail Roque for trying to see the glass half-full even as people have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis. His statements during Monday’s briefing made him a trending topic on Twitter.

Some netizens even cursed Roque for insensitivity as those who no longer have jobs or businesses may have families to feed or children who have to go to school.

Others said Roque's statement was revolting and that he should not romanticize the Filipinos’ resiliency and that he should stop downplaying developments as mere statistics – like when he talked about the supposedly small number of deaths caused by COVID-19 compared to the total cases.

One tweet read: “nagpapaka-positive pero sablay pa rin” while another said: “Well, trabaho niya damage control kahit katawatawa na pinagsasabi.”

A netizen also reminded Roque about jeepney drivers who have resorted to begging because they remain barred from plying their routes due to the lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.