Tacloban jobs returning after wrath of ‘Yolanda’

INTERIOR Secretary Mar Roxas, under his “walang iwanan” policy, hands over a check to Mayor Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan town, Leyte province, a member of UNA, for reconstruction and rehabilitation in his town following the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY—At least 12,000 individuals are currently employed in the city, seven months after it was pummeled by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

These workers are employed in more than 2,800 business establishments that are now in operation after Yolanda, according to Pat Pedrosa, assistant officer of the licenses and permits division of the city treasurer’s office.

The number of workers in the city, however, represents less than 30 percent of the city’s work force before it was devastated by Yolanda.

Last year, at least 38,700 individuals had been employed in 12,900 business establishments in the city.

Pedrosa said she was confident that before the year ends, the city’s employment figure would grow as more business establishments are expected to operate, including those that had been forced to close as a result of Yolanda’s devastation.

One of the latest establishments to open was Gaisano Central, a shopping mall that had hired more than 300 workers.

But for businessman Kenneth Uy, who owns a refilling station and a restaurant, business climate in the city remains “unstable.”

“Just like the weather, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Uy said.