SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara called on the Department of Labor and Employment to come up with special programs for workers and industries affected by the Covid19 pandemic.

Angara cited the Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES that provided job opportunities to students and out of school youth.

The senator also commended the labor department for rolling out programs to assist various sectors and help them cope with the pandemic such as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers and the Covid19 Adjustment Measures Program.

He said the government should extend assistance to all Filipinos who need help.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance took note of the 8.1 percent unemployment rate reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority in August 2021.

“Malayo pa sa 2019 levels ang recovery ng ating mga local industries tulad ng tourism, transportation and the associated industries. We should come up with special programs that are targeted towards the heavily affected industries,” Angara said.

“It’s a well established fact that Covid has exacerbated or made inequality worse. We’re adding to the ranks of poor people if we do not develop programs on the fly,” he added.