Former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday scored the government for failing to help Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Binay said the country marked this year’s Labor Day with millions of workers out of work and hungry.
“At a time when workers need it the most, government aid is practically non-existent. But expect the usual platitudes and empty promises from government officials today. ‘Yan lang yata ang hindi nagbabago kahit ilang palit na tayo ng administrasyon,” he said.
“If the national government really wants to thank the workers, they should give them cash aid enough to live during the pandemic,” he added.
Binay said despite the high unemployment rate and rising food prices, the administration is wanting in terms of extending much-needed cash assistance to workers, especially those adversely impacted by the pandemic and the lockdowns that shuttered businesses.
“I hope one day our Labor Day will be a day of truly recognizing workers for their dignity,” the former vice president said.
A survey of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute released earlier this week showed six in 10 families have suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity amid the pandemic.
In its rapid nutrition assessment survey conducted from November 3 to December 3 last year, DOST-FNRI said 62.1 percent of Filipino families have suffered from having little to nothing to eat amid the health crisis.
At least 71.8 percent of the respondents were forced to borrow money just to be able to buy food while 66.3 percent asked for food from their relatives, neighbors, and friends.
Some 21.1 percent of the respondents said they had to cut their food intake to be able to feed their children.
The survey showed that among the causes of food insecurity are lack of money (22.1 percent), limited public transportation (21.6 percent), loss of livelihood (19.5 percent), and lack of access to adequate food (10.8 percent).