IGINIIT ni Senador Grace Poe sa pamahalaan na dapat munang solusyunan ang problema sa unemployment sa bansa kung nais nitong maabot ang target na pagbangon ng ekonomiya.

“They’ve been telling people to go out and spend to prop up the economy. But before they can spend, they need to have the money to do so. Allowing kids to go out doesn’t address that problem,” sabi ni Poe, na isang child advocate.

Aniya, ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay bumulusok sa pinakamababang antas noong nakaraang taon mula pa noong 1946 nang unang magsimulang maglabas ang pamahalaan ng datos na 9.5 porsiyento.

Sa production side, agriculture, industry, at mga serbisyo ang higit na nakaranas ng pagbagsak habang sa expenditure side, tanging ang gobyerno ang gumagastos samantalang ang paggastos ng mga
consumer, investments, exports at imports ay pawang bumagsak.

“Economists and businessmen have been calling for a stronger fiscal stimulus since last year to prevent the closure of companies and prevent the loss of jobs. If we are to heal as one, we need to listen to all stakeholders. Wage subsidies would have put money in people’s pockets so they can spend,” ayon pa sa senador.

Tanging ang Pilipinas aniya ang nagpatupad ng pinakamahabang quarantine restrictions sa buong bansa kung saan umasa lamang ang taumbayan sa special amelioration program ng pamahalaan.

“Why are we acknowledging the issue only now when businesses have been very vocal about the problem since last year? Sa dinami-dami na ng kanilang inambag, hindi man lang makuhang pakinggan at
isama ang kanilang mungkahi sa solusyon? The Philippines is a democracy and constructive discourse should be its strength,” paliwanag ni Poe.

“If economic planners are looking at consumer spending as the key to economic recovery, what they need to address is how people will have money to spend. I am no economist but they seem to be hyperfocusing on boosting consumer spending as if it was a just a simple solution,” dagdag pa nito. (NOEL ABUEL)