By Anthony A. Araos
For the nth time, I’m arguing that the real problem today in the Philippines is its collapsed economy. It is certainly not the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 5,503 individuals lost their jobs in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Over 190,000 workers nationwide ended up jobless as more establishments folded up or were forced to reduce their workforce.
It is no longer shocking to see business establishments unable to operate in a period of suspended animation brought by ineffective lockdowns and unjustified quarantine restrictions. The situation in Ifugao is no different. Many are now unemployed after these uncalled for curbs took its toll on sari-sari stores, restaurants, inns and lodging houses in the province. Jeepney, bus and van drivers (as well as conductors and other related workers in the transport industry) were badly affected and any attempt to present a line of excuses or alibis would be practically meaningless.
Each sector by itself has been affected terribly serious by shutdowns, and together they added up to a colossal nightmare in the province and most parts of the region. Obviously, each of the reasons attributed to mounting unemployment problem in the province could be elaborated upon at much greater length, but even this cursory examination provides some indication of the kind of life in Ifugao is. The solution must come from somewhere else, frequently one from the few educated men and women in the private sector, who are able to rise up as leaders precisely because of their ability to think intelligently and differently from traditional politicians or “trapos.”
The lifeblood of the Ifugao economy is a vibrant business community. Therefore, the provincial government and the business sector should hold regular consultations. There is simply no room to ignore business owners at this point of time. That’s why I consider the need of having an updated Registry of Business Owners (if there’s already one) in the 11 towns of Ifugao. Thus, in arriving at a systematic approach to handling the unemployment problem it is proper that we begin with raw data and see how these contributed to the problem.
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Can Ifugao be developed? Yes, certainly opportunities abound and the province is rich in natural resources. Of course, I spoke of it in my endorsement letter of the creation for the Provincial Assessment and Evaluation Team (PAET) to Governor Jerry Dalipog. He immediately issued an executive order for its creation. Now, I’ll venture even a mile more. Can Ifugao be touted as an investment hub? Yes, surely this is a likelihood scenario if and only if Governor Dalipog taps the expertise of a few educated, right-thinking, dynamic and enterprising men and women in the private sector. Infrastructure is necessary for Ifugao to attract investments. You need better power and water infrastructure, an airport and roads that would make it easy to move around the province. No, no, I don’t hear that at all from the functionaries surrounding the governor. This is the time to push aggressively toward sound and timely development of infrastructure projects that are expected to optimally impact productivity and economic growth in Ifugao. At a faster pace, the province’s growth would bring down the poverty level following the creation of new jobs. Well, then, I wish the public sector the best. Let’s start the debate: Can Ifugao be developed?
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At the Lagawe flea market, vendors are reportedly still paying “kuwartais” fees. They have been displaced since late March of this year because of the COVID-19. These Php 20 or so fees and “annual fees” should be removed for obvious reasons.
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Brainy tidbits: Budget-conscious people are into fruits and vegetables with a good reason. Citrus fruits (like lemon and pomelo) are rich in vitamin C. Vegetables (such as cabbage and spinach) contain vitamins and minerals.**
