MANILA, Philippines — Distributing additional cash aid is not an option for now, Malacañang said Tuesday after unemployment hit a 15-year high in 2020 with 4.5 million Filipinos jobless.
READ: 4.5 million Filipinos jobless in 2020; highest in 15 years
In an online Palace briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said reopening the economy without sacrificing the minimum health standards is still the solution in addressing unemployment.
“Hindi pa po kasama sa mga opsyon ang pamimigay ng ayuda,” Roque said.
(Giving out cash aid is not yet among the options.)
During the onset of the community quarantine imposed over the Philippines, the government distributed two tranches of cash aid to low-income families.
“Ang ating gagawin po ay unang una, pagbubukas pa muli ng ating ekonomiya. Pangalawa po, yung expansion ng mga age group na pupuwedeng lumabas at ang pangatlo po yung pagpaparami pa ng ating transportasyon,” Roque said.
(What we will do is first is reopen the economy. Second, expand the age group allowed outside and third, increasing the capacity of public transportation.)
Roque also noted that the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program is also among the strategies to boost the economy.
“Dahil sabi ng Pangulo, magsimula lang ang pagbabakuna, ma-convince lang siya na marami rami na ang nababakunahan, talagang tuluyan na niyang bubuksan ang ekonomiya,” Roque said.
(Because the President said, once the vaccination starts and he is convinced that many have already been inoculated, that’s when we could reopen the economy.)
READ: Can’t fully open economy unless most Filipinos have access to COVID-19 vaccines — Duterte
“Pagbubukas po talaga ng ekonomiya ang solusyon para magkaroon ng mas maraming trabaho sa ating lipunan,” he went on.
(Reopening the economy is the solution to create more jobs in society.)