Palace: Lockdowns caused many Filipinos to go hungry

MANILA, Philippines — The hunger experienced by at least one of every five Filipinos in the past three months as shown by the result of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey was the result of lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque expressed sadness over the survey’s results and said it is among the reasons why the government is trying not to tighten quarantine measures again.

“Nalulungkot po tayo pero yan po talaga ay dahil sa ating lockdown na ginawa. At alam naman po namin na kaya iniiwasan natin ang lockdown muli, ay yan talaga ay magdudulot ng kagutuman sa mas marami nating mga kababayan,” Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV.

(We are saddened but that is due to the lockdown imposed. And this is why we are preventing going back to lockdown because it will cause hunger to more of our countrymen.)

Lockdown measures have been imposed in parts of the country since mid-March. It was only in June when restrictions were eased to restart the economy.

“Many lost their jobs during the pandemic. The resumption of public transportation was calibrated and phased. The economy had only started to open. These factors contributed to the respondents saying the experienced hunger,” Roque said in a separate statement.

An SWS survey released Tuesday showed 20.9 percent of Filipino families or 5.2 million have experienced hunger at least once in the past three months.

The Visayas registered the highest hunger rate at 27.2 percent, the survey showed.

“After all, some areas in Cebu province were then under enhanced community quarantine, which is the highest restriction level placed by the national government,” Roque noted.

“Isa pa, noong panahon ng lockdown, may ayuda,” he also said.

(Another thing is that during lockdown before, there was financial assistance.)

Some 18 million low-income families were given cash aid from P5,000 to P8,000 when lockdowns were imposed nationwide.

“So, ang talgaang sagot sa kagutuman ay magbukas ng ekonomiya at kaya naman po natin yan kung iingatan natin ang mga buhay natin para tayo po’y makapaghanapbuhay,” he went on.

(So the answer to hunger is to reopen the economy and we can do that if we become more careful so we can return to work.)

/MUF