Labor chief disputes government data on 7.3 million jobless Filipinos

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/07/25/20180629-dole-bello-jc-5.jpg"/><figcaption>Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA-- Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III disputed on Wednesday official government data on unemployment, saying it was only a &quot;survey.&quot;Bello said only 2,068 companies have reported closures, rendering 69,000 Filipinos jobless.&quot;Yun pong 7.3 million ay survey pa lang &#x27;yan, hindi pa po &#x27;yan actual o factual,&quot; he said in a virtual press briefing.(The 7.3 million is only a suvey. That is not actual or factual.)Official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in the 3-month period until April, unemployment surged to a record 17.7 percent, increasing the total number of jobless Filipinos to 7.3 million.The period included several weeks when Luzon, home to industrial zones and business hubs, was under strict quarantine, shuttering businesses, public transport and schools, among others. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said it reflected the &quot;effect of the economic shutdown.&quot;&quot;Hindi actual &#x27;yan kasi kung tuus-tuusin at ang mga nagsabi na nagsara sila ay 2,068 companies or employers,&quot; Bello said.(That is not actual [number] because only 2,068 companies reported closure.)<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/05/20/philippines-coronavirus-covid-lockdown-record-unemployment-jobless-73-million">Jobless Filipinos balloon to 7.3 million in April as unemployment soars in lockdown</a></li></ul>

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III disputed on Wednesday official government data on unemployment, saying it was only a "survey."

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III disputed on Wednesday official government data on unemployment, saying it was only a "survey."

Labor chief disputes government data on 7.3 million jobless Filipinos | ABS-CBN

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Labor chief disputes government data on 7.3 million jobless Filipinos

Labor chief disputes government data on 7.3 million jobless Filipinos

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 10, 2020 01:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Silvestre Bello III

Bebot Bello

DOLE

unemployment

labor

job losses

Bello unemployment

Philippines unemployment 2020

Philippines unemployment quarantine

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