100K jobless Filipinos expected to return to work under Alert Level 2 —DTI's Lopez

Some 100,000 unemployed Filipinos are expected to return to the labor force amid the shift of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila to Alert Level 2, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.

According to Lopez, there were a total of 1.8 million individuals who lost their jobs due to the various quarantine restrictions implemented across the country, of which 100,000 remain unemployed.

“Ang total lahat ng naapektuhan diyan ay mga 1.8 million at dahil sa mga movement pababa ng mga alert level cases, bago nag-Alert Level 2 ay mga 100,000,” he said during the virtual Palace briefing.

“Around 100,000 more or less, so ito ‘yung mga inaasahan nating makabalik itong Alert Level 2. Bottom line po dito ay ito na nga po mapapabalik sa economic activities,” he added.

(The total of those affected is 1.8 million and because of the easing of the alert levels, this has been reduced to 100,000 before the implementation of the Alert Level 2. We expect these individuals to return to economic activities under Alert Level 2.)

Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 2 from November 5 to 21in light of the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases being recorded.

Under the current restrictions, establishments are allowed to operate indoors at 50% with additional 10% capacity if they have a safety seal. Outdoor capacity will be capped at 70%.

Lopez said that it would be up to the establishments to ensure that their customers adhere to public health safety standards.

“Kasama sa mga guidelines natin, bawat establisyimento, magtatalaga sila, maglalagay sila ng mga health and safety protocol officers. Katungkulan po nila ‘yan,” he said.

(In line with the guidelines, each establishment is ordered to appoint a health and safety protocol officer. That is their duty.)

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) earlier said the de-escalation to Alert Level 2 can increase the gross domestic product (GDP) by P3.6 billion per week. —KBK, GMA News