Tag: work

Philippines unemployment rate falls down to 3.5% in February 2024

Philippines unemployment rate falls down to 3.5% in February 2024

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Recently the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that the unemployment rate of the nation fell down to 3.5% in February 2024, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in February this year from 4.5 percent in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

In a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said based on the time series, the unemployment rate during the month was the second lowest on record since the 3.1 percent in December 2023. Unemployment rate in February last year was 4.8 percent.

Mapa said the number of unemployed Filipinos went down to 1.80 million from 2.47 million and 2.15 million unemployed persons in February 2023 and January 2024.

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), meanwhile, was at 64.8 percent or about 50.75 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above who were either employed or unemployed.

This is lower than the 66.6 percent LFPR seen in February last year with young people (-669,000) and women (-404,000) withdrawing from the labor force. 

“The needs of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, older people, and those with disabilities, remain our priority to encourage workforce participation. We will improve access to quality childcare, finance, and entrepreneurship opportunities to support women’s entry and retention in the labor market,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a separate statement.

Balisacan said the government will revisit the existing policy governing alternative work modes, such as the Telecommuting Act, and adapt it to the evolving work landscape to address the growing preference for remote work.

“The government will explore enhancing the potential of part-time work to help promote lifelong learning. A framework for part-time work and similar set-ups can allow workers to retool or upskill without leaving the workforce,” Balisacan said.

The country’s employment rate, meanwhile, went up to 96.5 percent in February from 95.5 percent in January and 95.2 percent in February this year.

The number of employed persons was registered at 48.95 million, higher than the recorded number of employed persons in February 2023 at 48.80 million and in January 2024 at 45.94 million.

Major industries with the largest increase in employment include construction (470,000), transportation and storage (444,000), administrative and support service activities (344,000), manufacturing (313,000), and accommodation and food service activities (210,000).

Underemployed persons – or those who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their current job or to have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work – reached 6.08 million, down from last year’s 6.29 million.

The NEDA said the Marcos administration will continue to prioritize people-centered policies and attract job-creating investments to support the continued improvement of the Philippine labor market and enable Filipinos to earn higher wages from better jobs.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the nation’s economy and employers still have enough momentum to move forward and create more new jobs over the next twelve months?   

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Contact tracing efforts in Muntinlupa City through StaySafe.PH app tightened in response to rising COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 Crisis: Contact tracing efforts in Muntinlupa City through StaySafe.PH app tightened in response to rising COVID-19 cases

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With tighter contact tracing efforts and integration of local COVID-19 data in the StaySafe.PH system, confirmed cases and their close contacts in Muntinlupa cannot falsify their health condition and will be barred entry from local establishments.

The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Muntinlupa and Management Information System Office have started tagging COVID-19 cases in the StaySafe.PH app allowing establishments to identify confirmed, probable, and suspect cases based from real-time data from the City Health Office.

Since March 9, 2021, the profiles of all individuals under the surveillance of Muntinlupa CHO were identified in the contact tracing system and were adjusted accordingly. Individuals with purple screen corresponds to “Government Declared as CONFIRMED,” orange screen as “Government Declared as PROBABLE,” and red screen as “Government Declared as SUSPECTED.”

Establishments are advised to prohibit entry, isolate immediately, and report to the City Health Office or Barangay Health Emergency Response Team those individuals with non-eligible screens upon scanning of the StaySafe.Ph QR Code. Upon recovery, the profile of individuals with confirmed or probable status will revert to “good condition” with a green screen and will be allowed entry to establishments anew.

The color-based indicators from StaySafe.ph app. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Recently, the City Government of Muntinlupa, in partnership with the Department of Health, launched the Staysafe.PH app as the official digital contact tracing system in the city and has implemented a “No QR Code, No Entry Policy” in all commercial establishments, workplaces, churches, and government offices in the city.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged all residents and owners of establishments in the city to use the StaySafe.PH app amid rising COVID-19 cases. He said the adoption of StaySafe.PH in Muntinlupa is in compliance with the national government’s recommendation for a uniformed contact tracing system to prevent further COVID-19 transmission, especially with the detection of the contagious variants in the country.

All residents and visitors who will enter, work, or do business in all indoor or enclosed public and private establishments in Muntinlupa shall be required to download and register at the StaySafe.PH application and secure a unique QR Code which they can store on their phone or print for physical copy. QR Codes for non-smartphone user registrants shall be generated by their respective barangays and shall be distributed to where the registrant resides.

Members of the Muntinlupa City StaySafe.Ph Task Force has conducted regular inspections to ensure compliance of local public and private establishments. As of March 11, 2021, the local Task Force has issued 235 notice of violations to non-compliant establishments.

Violators will be charged with P2,000 penalty and suspension of franchise or business permit until violation has been rectified for first offense, P3,000 for second offense, and suspension or revocation of franchise or business permit including P5,000 for the third offense. In case the offender is a government official or employee, the maximum penalty shall be imposed including the filing of administrative, civil, or criminal action.

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The above information was provided by the City Government of Muntinlupa for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to implement cost-cutting measures to fund programs vs COVID-19

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to implement cost-cutting measures to fund programs vs COVID-19

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to implement cost-cutting measures to fund programs vs COVID-19

The City Government of Muntinlupa is set to implement economic and austerity measures to continue funding its programs in curbing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed City Ordinance No. 2020-105 providing cost-cutting measures and realignment of funds to augment budgetary requirements for COVID-19 response.

The approved measure follows the recommendation of the Local Finance Committee to reduce expenses and conserve necessary resources from the 2020 Annual Budget by channeling funds to programs and projects towards COVID-19 initiatives.

Under the local ordinance, overtime pay to employees is suspended while hazard pay in relation to COVID-19 would be covered only until May 15 for qualified personnel.

However, health workers and other essential personnel assigned at the City Health Office, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, City Veterinary Office and Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau would continue to receive their hazard pay.

Honoraria of personnel involved in Technical Working Groups and other committees are also suspended while allowances of officers and staff members of national government agencies would be reduced by 50 percent.

The City Government of Muntinlupa is also set to impose a freeze on the hiring of new personnel except for front-liners in health, law enforcement, sanitation, social services and other essential departments.

Further, local and foreign travels for all officials and staff are prohibited while civic celebrations, cultural events, and the purchase of supplies not related to the city’s COVID-19 response are put on hold.

Muntinlupa City Hall employees will also no longer get rice allocation of one sack per employee which is given every December.

Budget Committee chairman Coun. Raul Corro said if the economy continues to worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-cutting measures of the local government will be sustained until next year or even longer than that.

“This is a test of the city government’s ability to spend funds wisely. Because we will not get the income we were expecting, we need to cut our expenses and allot enough for funds for our primary needs,” Corro said.

As of July 2, Muntinlupa City has 440 confirmed cases with 291 recoveries, 111 active cases, 38 reported deaths, 137 suspect cases, and 350 probable cases.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to lift enhanced quarantine in Sucat sitio due to improving COVID-19 condition

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to lift enhanced quarantine in Sucat sitio due to improving COVID-19 condition

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa to lift enhanced quarantine in Sucat sitio due to improving COVID-19 condition

The City Government of Muntinlupa is set to lift the Enhanced Localized Community Quarantine in a sitio in Brgy. Sucat ahead of schedule due to improving situation of COVID-19 in the area.

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao recommended the lifting of the localized quarantine in Sitio Pagkakaisa Zone 3 Interior in Brgy. Sucat, on June 29, 11:59 PM, four days before the set deadline of the lockdown for the community.

Earlier, the City Government placed the area in ELCQ starting June 13, 12:01 AM until July 3, 11:59 PM due to the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases.

Tuliao reported that out of 29 confirmed cases, 14 have already recovered while 15 residents were admitted to Ospital ng Muntinlupa for isolation and treatment. All residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are now recovering and have shown improving conditions.

Further, the local health officer noted that the doubling time in Sitio Pagkakaisa Zone 3 Interior has slowed down.

During the lockdown, CHO conducted a mass testing in the community and strengthened its detection, isolation, and treatment strategies. The local government has also provided relief food packs to cover all meals and other basic supplies during the effectivity of the lockdown.

Residents of Sitio Pagkakaisa are urged to continue observing social distancing and other health protocols such as wearing of face masks, and frequent washing of hands.

Sitio Pagkakaisa Zone 3 Interior in Brgy. Sucat is the second community to have completed an ELCQ following Morning Breeze Homes in Brgy. Alabang last June 16. Localized lockdowns in Muntinlupa started after the implementation of the General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the City Government continues to monitor Block 35 Excess Lot, Soldier’s Hills in Brgy. Putatan, the third community to be put under lockdown which is set to end on July 7, 11:59 PM. Muntinlupa LGU eyes to conduct more localized community quarantine in several areas in the city to curb the alarming transmission of COVID-19 in the communities.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi pleads to city residents not to be complacent amid the GCQ and to avoid going out unless necessary. The local exec reminds the public to observe stringent personal hygiene and to follow preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand washing.

Muntinlupa City has 410 confirmed cases with 267 recoveries, 106 active cases, 37 reported deaths, 77 suspect cases, and 409 probable cases as of June 28.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City hired 3,761 displaced workers over the last three months of community quarantine

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City hired 3,761 displaced workers over the last three months of community quarantine

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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City hired 3,761 displaced workers over the last three months of community quarantine

The City Government of Muntinlupa is committed to assist displaced workers in the city affected by the community quarantine through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program and other employment initiatives.

Muntinlupa City Public Employment Service Office has recorded 3,761 beneficiaries employed through TUPAD since the first implementation of the community quarantine last March in Metro Manila.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment that provides emergency employment for displaced workers including transport drivers of tricycles, jeeps, and pedicabs for a minimum period of ten (10) days.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said the local government recognizes the plight of daily earners and marginalized workers who have lost their jobs and whose livelihoods are affected by the community quarantine.

“The City Government of Muntinlupa will continue to assist our displaced workers in the city since they are one of the most hardly-hit sectors in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fresnedi noted.

Beneficiaries were deployed to help in the city’s repacking and distribution of relief goods. Some displaced workers were assigned to participate in the disinfection/sanitation of their houses and immediate vicinity of their houses through the DOLE-TUPAD Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfecting/Sanitation (#BKBK) Project.

Further, displaced seamstresses were also hired to produce face masks and personal protective equipment for frontliners and city residents.

A total of P21.018 million were allocated for the program with augmentation from the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Gender and Development Office, Muntinlupa City Technical Institute, and Office of Congressman Ruffy Biazon.

TUPAD beneficiaries has rendered 15 working days in the program and received a salary of P537.00 per day. PESO Muntinlupa continues to facilitate the community-based employment program for city residents.

For more information, the public may coordinate with PESO Muntinlupa located at G/F Annex Building, Muntinlupa City Hall with Tel. No.: 8861-4133 and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/peso.munti.

As of June 25, Muntinlupa City has 359 confirmed cases with 248 recoveries, 74 active cases, 37 reported deaths, 68 suspect cases, and 293 probable cases.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa. Some parts were edited for this website. 

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.