36 151 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque received backlash after saying that President Rodrigo Duterte declared three (3) usual holidays as “special working days” because of the need to revive the economy after Filipinos’ “yearlong vacation” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The comment is insensitive to millions of FIlipinos suffering from the pandemic. 132 152 The surge of COVID-19 cases may delay the implementation of infrastructure projects. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 while building more infrastructure, existing protocols need to be fully enforced according to Acting Socio-economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).133 153 Members of the Makabayan bloc have filed House Resolution No. 1662, calling on the Philippine House Committee on Labor and Employment to conduct an inquiry on the Department of Education’s TV project with private production company Ei2Tech amid claims of delayed pay and unfair labor practices involving some producers and other workers hired for the program.134 154 The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be providing free transportation for healthcare workers through fielded passenger jeepneys under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) while NCR plus remains under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). In addition, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has three (3) military trucks on standby as backup transport, according to Chairperson Benhur Abalos.135 155 The NEDA Acting Secretary Karl Chua stated that they estimate a total of ₱83.3 billion in unearned wages as workers stay at home due to the implementation of strict community restrictions; for every one week of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), ₱19.6 billion in worker’s income is lost, while ₱14.7 billion is lost for a week’s implementation of a modified ECQ. Chua said that the 8.7 million jobs lost in April 2020 were recovered by the creation of 9.3 million jobs as of February 2021. However, unemployment is still high at 8.8% in February 2021 compared to 8.7% in January 2021. 156 The estimated unemployment rate was recorded at 6.9 percent last July 2021 Labor Force Survey. This is the lowest since the pandemic in April 2020. In terms of magnitude, this is about 3.1 million unemployed persons 15 years old and above. The employment rate on the other hand was at 93.1 percent, the highest since April 2020. This is equivalent to 41.7 million employed persons. Of the 41.7 million, 8.7 million or 20.9 percent were underemployed, the highest since the pandemic started.136 132 Aurelio, J. (2021). ‘Jobless, quarantined Pinoys not vacationing’ – Brosas. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer. net/1402762/jobless-quarantined-pinoys-not-vacationing 133 de Vera, B. (2021). Virus surge to delay infra projects. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/319831/virus-surgeto-delay-infra-projects 134 Aurelio, J. (2021). House probe sought into DepEd TV producers’ complaints. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer. net/1410583/house-probe-sought-into-deped-tv-producers-complaints 135 Ramos, M. (2021). DOTr gives free rides to health workers. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1413570/dotrgives-free-rides-to-health-workers 136 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021b, September). Unemployment Rate in July 2021 is Estimated at 6.9 Percent. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-july-2021-estimated-69-percent