Villanueva to DOLE, shield workers from displacement due to COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threatens the country’s job sector, Senator Joel Villanueva urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to implement employment assistance to workers who may find themselves displaced because of the pandemic.

In a statement on Thursday, Villanueva said DOLE should start expediting the implementation of programs “to ensure displaced workers would still be able to earn a living for their families instead of totally being unemployed.”

Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said DOLE should have already started efforts to help the labor market brace itself “for shocks that could send unemployment figures in an upward trend as the infectious disease continues to make difficult business operations which could result to layoffs.”

“The livelihood of our workers should continue even if some of them would lose their jobs as a result of COVID-19 affecting the operations of their employers,” he said.

He pointed out that among that could be of help to displaced workers is the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

The senator explained that TUPAD is a grass-roots approach to emergency employment.

Villanueva said the program is being implemented in communities for displaced workers, seasonal workers, and even the underemployed, he said.

According to the DOLE website, program beneficiaries work for a minimum of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of the work to be performed.

Villanueva said beneficiaries work on social community projects such as repair, maintenance, rehabilitation or improvement of common public and service facilities, as well as helping implement agroforestry projects like tree-planting and growing initiatives, among others.

After the beneficiaries complete the program, they could avail of skills training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) or its accredited training facility, he added.

Villanueva expressed hope that the department could quickly implement TUPAD on areas that could be hit hardest by layoffs so that the “disruption to the livelihood of workers are kept at a minimum.”

“The key for DOLE is anticipation. TUPAD is not only a means of being employed in tough times. We see it as an opportunity for workers to earn a living and to upskill at the end of the program,” he pointed out.

Villanueva cited a recent study by the Asian Development Bank which showed that the Philippine economy might lose between 87,000 to 252,000 jobs in five sectors, in addition to $669 million to $1.94 billion in GDP, if COVID-19 continues to spread in the country.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) earlier announced that it will be laying-off 300 workers due to revenue losses in the wake of the imposed travel ban in countries hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A labor official also earlier said 19 establishments, which have over 300 employees, were also expected to  close shop until April, June or August, depending on when the businesses themselves expect operations to normalize amid the pandemic.

Water shortage amid COVID-19

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, expressed concern on the effect of the ongoing water shortage in Metro Manila on COVID-19.

“Paano tayo maghuhugas ng kamay kung wala namang tubig?” she said in a separate statement.

(How can we wash our hands if there is no water?)

“We should not allow poor public services to worsen the already terrible COVID-19 outbreak into a deadly health crisis,” she added.

She said the ongoing water shortage is “putting entire communities at grave risk, denying many Filipinos the ability to protect themselves against the COVID-19 outbreak.”

She issued this warning after water concessionaires in the Metro announced that they will implement rotational water service interruptions starting this month.

“There is only one thing more important than face masks or alcohol in our fight to prevent the virus and that is running water,” she said.

She then urged the government, especially the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) to step up efforts to boost water supply in communities in the coming weeks.

She said steady water supply should be particularly provided to urban poor neighborhoods and areas where there is a heavy concentration of people.

As of Wednesday night, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported 49 positive COVID-19 cases in the country, which has been placed under a state of public health emergency by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Edited by MUF