SENATOR Francis Pangilinan on Friday lamented that a new generation of fresh graduates is having a hard time entering the labor force as the unemployment rate jumped up in August due to quarantine restrictions.

“‘Yung close-open na lockdown, nag-ko-close ng oportunidad sa mga gustong maghanapbuhay. Marami na ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil dito, tapos ngayon may mga bagong graduate na maghahanap din ng trabaho,” Pangilinan eaid.

The senator stressed that an appropriate, efficient, corrupt-free Covid response is key to a promising life for all Filipinos, including new graduates.

As of August 2021, the unemployment rate swelled to 8.1%, equivalent to 3.88 million jobless Filipinos.

National Economic Development Authority Secretary Karl Chua earlier said that lockdowns temporarily stopped jobs while gradual easing resumed employment generation.

“Tuwing ang Metro Manila ay sumasailalim sa lockdown, marami ang pansamantalang nawawalan ng trabaho. Hindi sapat ang lockdown kung walang kasabay na testing, contact tracing, isolation at vaccination,” Pangilinan said.

“Kahit hindi pa pandemya ay mahirap na maghanap ng trabaho kapag ikaw ay fresh graduate. Mas lalo na ngayon na mataas ang unemployment rate. This is a leadership issue. Kapag natugunan ng liderato ang Covid ay magbubukas ulit ang mga negosyo at mga trabaho,” he added.

Chua estimated that the Philippine economy would take more than 10 years to return to pre-pandemic growth, warning that the next two generations of Filipinos would be paying for the cost of Covid19.

Pangilinan said it is unfortunate that young Filipinos would have to bear the brunt of the effects of a poor Covid response.

“Hindi pa nga nakakapagtrabaho, may mga utang na. Kailangan nating bigyan ng mahusay na aksiyong medikal ang kasalukuyan para ang ating mga graduates ay makapagtrabaho at makatulong sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.