Millions more unemployed in the Philippines amid COVID-19 lockdown

Summary

In the Philippines, the strict lockdown to curb COVID-19 has led to severe economic hardships for millions. Julio Evangelista, once a jeepney driver earning $300 a month, now struggles to feed his family, resorting to begging in the streets. Christiane Garcia, a former professional photographer, now works as a delivery driver for half his previous income. With over 2.5 million job losses since the lockdown, the government's limited resources are strained, leaving the most vulnerable at risk of starvation if not for the virus.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Julio Evangelista, a jeepney driver, used to earn around $300 a month, which was barely enough to support his family.
• 🔒 The lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19 left Julio unable to work and pay rent, forcing his family to live in a jeepney and beg for food.
• 📸 Christiane Garcia, a professional photographer, lost his job due to the lockdown and had to take up a delivery driver role, earning significantly less than before.
• 🏙️ The Philippine government implemented one of the world's strictest and longest quarantines, affecting over 15 million Filipinos in the Luzon region, which contributes at least 75% to the country's economy.
• 📉 The strict quarantine measures led to significant economic damage, with at least 2.5 million Filipinos losing their jobs since the lockdown began.
• 🏠 The government is providing cash aid to millions of impoverished families, but resources are stretched, and the calamity fund is nearly depleted.
• 🌐 The health crisis has disproportionately affected those who were already living on the margins of society, with hunger becoming a more immediate threat than the virus itself.
• 🤝 The government's response to the crisis has been to ease quarantine restrictions in an attempt to restore normalcy and limit further economic damage.
• 📊 The long-term effects of the pandemic on the economy and employment are expected to be severe, with millions more Filipinos potentially facing unemployment this year.

Q & A

What was Julio's Evangelista's previous occupation and how much did he earn?

Julio's Evangelista used to be a jeepney driver, earning around $300 a month.

How has the lockdown affected Julio's Evangelista's ability to support his family?

The lockdown has made it impossible for Julio to work, leaving him unable to pay for house rent in Manila, and now he has to beg in the street to feed his family.

What was Christiane Garcia's profession before the pandemic?

Christiane Garcia was a professional photographer before the pandemic.

How did Christiane Garcia adapt to the lockdown and its economic impact?

Christiane Garcia adapted to the lockdown by finding a job as a delivery driver, earning less than half of his previous income.

What is the significance of the lockdown in Luzon in terms of the Philippine economy?

The lockdown in Luzon, which accounts for at least 75 percent of the entire Philippine economy, has had a substantial impact on the country's economic growth.

How long was the lockdown in the Philippines, and what was its purpose?

The Philippine government implemented a two-month lockdown for more than 15 million Filipinos in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.

What measures has the government taken to alleviate the economic impact of the lockdown?

The government has given cash aid to millions of impoverished families and eased quarantine restrictions to restore some normalcy and limit economic damage.

How many Filipinos have lost their jobs since the lockdown began?

At least two and a half million Filipinos have lost their jobs since the lockdown began.

What is the government's assessment of the unemployment situation in the Philippines this year?

The government expects millions more to be unemployed this year due to the impact of the health crisis.

How is the health crisis affecting the most vulnerable populations in the Philippines?

The health crisis is causing particular suffering to those who had very little to begin with, and the government's calamity fund is already stretched thin.

What are the concerns of those living on the fringes of society regarding the pandemic?

People living on the fringes, like Julius, are concerned that if the virus doesn't kill them, hunger most likely will due to the lack of resources and support.