Filipinos in Yolanda-affected areas continue to face livelihood challenges

FILIPINOS, particularly those in Eastern Visayas, are still reeling from the devastation caused by Supertyphoon Yolanda months after the super typhoon hit the region, according to IBON Foundation Inc.

Based on the results of IBON’s recent survey, around 46.7 percent of respondents in Eastern Visayas said their livelihood situation was worse in April 2014 compared to a year ago. “More Filipinos feel that their livelihood worsened compared to the previous quarter,” IBON said. “Moreover, the Eastern Visayas, the hardest hit by Yolanda, is among regions where respondents’ livelihood became worse.”

The nationwide survey was conducted from April 24 to 30 among 1,500 respondents 18 years and above. It asked respondents the question: “How is your livelihood today compared to a year ago?”

Results also showed that the majority of respondents nationwide or 84.2 percent of all respondents perceived their livelihood as the same or worse compared to a year ago.

Data showed that the proportion of respondents who said their livelihood stayed the same was 53.1 percent and those who said it was worse was 31.1 percent of the total. “Respondents who said their livelihood became worse increased from 25.5 percent in January. Only 14.9 percent said that their livelihood improved,” IBON said. The survey used a multistage probability sampling scheme and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. The April 2014 round was a noncommissioned survey conducted across various sectors in 16 regions.

In the April 2014 Labor Force Survey recently released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment and underemployment decreased to 7 percent and 18.2 percent, respectively. The decline was due to the increase in the number of Filipinos employed during the period.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said around 1.7 million Filipinos were employed in April this year. However, government officials remain unimpressed by the improvements. Neda Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan said the country continued to struggle with low-quality jobs for Filipinos.

Balisacan said the government must also continue the multidimensional approach specified in the Updated Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 to further improve labor market performance.He said these strategies include those that encourage investments and improve productivity and sustain the steady increase in the country’s income per capita. Balisacan said these could spur the productive sectors of the economy and encourage the generation of more stable-paying employment opportunities. –Cai U. Ordinario, Businessmirror