House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The decrease in unemployment rates recorded in November 2024 is a positive development and a sign that the government is working to expand the country’s economy, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Friday.
In a statement, Romualdez said that reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that unemployment numbers went down by 3.2 percent in November — from 12.6 percent the previous month to 10.8 percent — indicate that the right economic policies are in place.
“(The decrease in unemployment and underemployment numbers) means that the economy continues to expand under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and continues to create job and income opportunities for our people,” Romualdez said.
“The right economic policies are driving our growth and generating jobs for jobless Filipinos. We are happy for those who have found employment and who are working longer hours than before,” he added.
According to the Speaker, there are programs which may assist people still unemployed, like the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, under the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Furthermore, Romualdez said that jobless Filipinos can avail of training programs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, so that they can fine tune their skills and find appropriate jobs.
“For those who remain unemployed, the government has various programs to help them. We hope that as the economy grows and create more jobs, they would eventually find employment,” he said.
Despite these developments, Romualdez also admitted that lowering unemployment is a big task, which is why the House commits to continue helping the government in stimulating the economy.
“It’s a big challenge, which we hope to successfully address for the benefit of all of our people,” he said.
According to the PSA, a nationwide survey of 11,276 households showed that there were 1.66 million individuals who were either jobless or out of business in November, lower than the 1.97 million recorded in October.
Furthermore, the quality of available work also improved, compared to October 2024 when the unemployment rate went down but the quality of jobs worsened.
READ: Unemployment rate down in Oct but job quality worsened
Despite these reports, many Filipinos still feel poor. A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Wednesday showed that 63 percent of Filipinos surveyed considered themselves as poor — the highest number since 2003.
READ: SWS: Self-rated poverty at 63%, highest since 2003
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro criticized the Marcos administration for failing to address poverty, claiming that it seems Malacañang is just asking people to endure hardships — as it resorts to adding more financial burden to the public with the proposed Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) fare hikes, and the contribution increase for Social Security System (SSS) members.
“Amidst rising costs of basic goods and services, the Marcos administration remains passive, leaving the Filipino people to fend for themselves. Electricity, water, and fuel prices are skyrocketing, LRT fares are set to climb, and SSS premiums are increasing, yet Malacañang tells us to just endure it. What kind of government allows its people to suffer like this?” Castro asked.
“The government must act now to prevent further suffering. We demand immediate interventions to control the rising prices of essentials and to review economic policies that have failed our people,” she added.
READ: As more Pinoys become poor, ‘Palace tells us to just endure it’ – Castro
On the other hand, Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre assured the public that the House will be part of Marcos’ mission to fight poverty and ensure food security.
Acidre stressed that the House has built the quinta committee, which seeks to check why prices of basic goods and commodities have not decreased despite numerous interventions.
“These figures highlight the urgency of our work in the House under the capable leadership of Speaker Romualdez, while also underscoring the potential impact of the measures we are putting in place,” Acidre said. “Food security remains central to our efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life for every Filipino family.”
“We are tackling the root causes of food insecurity. By ensuring affordable food for all, we are addressing one of the most pressing concerns of Filipino families,” Acidre said.