The government is not yet considering another round of cash subsidy to Filipinos who lost their jobs during the pandemic, according to a Palace official.
Instead, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government plans to stimulate job creation and economic growth by further reopening of the economy, easing age restrictions of people allowed to leave their houses, and expanding operations of public transportation.
The country's unemployment rate has reached 8.7 percent, or equivalent to 4 million jobless persons, in January 2021 based on the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The figure was higher compared to 5.3 percent or 2.4 million without jobs in the same period last year.
"Hindi pa po kasama sa mga option ang pamimigay ng ayuda (The distribution of financial aid is not yet included in the options)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, March 9 when asked if another cash aid or social amelioration package was an immediate option to help the jobless Filipinos.
"Ang ating gagawin po ay unang-una iyong pagbubukas pa muli ng ating ekonomiya. Pangalawa po, iyong expansion ng mga age group na pupuwedeng lumabas at ang pangatlo po ay iyong pagpaparami pa ng ating transportasyon (We will instead first pursue the further opening of the economy. Second, the expansion of the age group that can go out, and third, the increase in public transportation)," he said.
To promote economic recovery, he said public health precautions must still be observed as the government moves to reopen further the economy. "'Yung pagbubukas ng ating ekonomiya na kinakailangan naman hindi sinasakriprisyo iyong kaligtasan at kalusugan. Patuloy pa rin po ang mask, hugas, iwas at bakuna (The further opening of the economy will not sacrifice the health and safety of our people. We must continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing, and undergo vaccination)," he said.
He said the government's stimulus plan also includes the implementation of the two Bayanihan laws as well as the 2021 national budget. The government's vaccination drive is also expected not only boost public health but also enhance consumer and business confidence.
"Dahil ang sabi naman po ng Pangulo, magsimula lang ang pagbabakuna at ma-convince lang siya na marami-rami na ang nababakunahan, talagang tuluyan na niyang bubuksan ang ekonomiya. Pagbubukas po talaga ng ekonomiya ang solusyon para magkaroon po ng mas maraming trabaho sa ating lipunan (Because the President said, the vaccination should begin and he is convinced that many people are vaccinated, he will fully reopen the economy. The opening of the economy is the solution to generate more jobs in the country)," he said.
In a speech in Valenzuela City on March 4, the President committed to "fully reopen everything" in the economy when he sees most Filipinos can easily get vaccinated in health facilities.
The government only started its immunization program on March 1 following the arrival of the initial 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by China. Another 525,600 AstraZeneca doses have also been shipped to the country under the World Health Organization's COVAX facility.
The President previously thumbed down the proposal to place the country under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until after he sees the massive vaccination program in the country. Acting socio economic planning secretary Karl Kendrick Chua has also recommended the resumption of the dry run of face-to-face classes in low risk areas, but the proposal was rejected by the President pending the vaccination program.