April unemployment drops to 4.5%

By Julito G. Rada, Vince Lopez, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE country’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent in April 2023 from 5.7 percent a year ago and 4.7 percent in March 2023 as more jobs were created during the month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.

The PSA said the number of unemployed persons in April 2023 was estimated at 2.26 million, a decline of 506,000 from the 2.76 million unemployed persons in April 2022.

In a press briefing, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa

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Mayon's unrest prompted the evacuation of at least 20,000 residents around its six-kilometer permanent danger zone and nearby areas, according to local officials.

The state of calamity is expected to speed up the release of funds to assist the affected residents. Classes were also suspended in schools within Mayon’s danger zone.

An eruption occurred on the summit of Mayon a day after its alert level status was raised to 3, meaning "an increased tendency towards hazardous eruption," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) confirmed Friday.

The volcano emitted plumes that reached 800 meters tall, while its edifice was also inflated.

In a TV interview, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said an eruption and six pyroclastic density currents (PDC) were recorded from the volcano.

“This would imply a continuous supply of magma to the surface, dislodging all the new surface of the lava dome," Bacolcol said. “Right now, there is an eruption on the summit.”

Raising the alert level in the active volcano in Albay signifies an "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption,” Phivolcs said.

It also said the repeated collapse of the volcano's growing summit dome has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events since the alert level was

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Bicol Region and Calabarzon for interventions that need to be implemented,” Nepomuceno said.

“Mayon Volcano is now at alert level 3. We call on the communities in the area to always follow the warnings and orders of authorities such as the evacuation inside the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ. This is due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards in Mayon Volcano,” he said.

But Phivolcs on Friday said it was

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Ocean near the equator, the weather pattern last occurred in 2018-19 and takes place every 2-7 years on average.

"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," said NOAA climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux.

"Climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience aboveaverage temperatures during El Nino," she added.

In Memorandum Circular No. 22, dated June 7, 2023, and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, President Marcos ordered the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) and its network of agencies to execute water conservation measures to avert a water crisis in the next several months.

Mr. Marcos also directed all agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, to "identify and implement specific quantifiable and

NAIA 3...

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Extensive consultations with stakeholders under the principle of social dialog and tripartism resulted in the 2023 Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Deployment of Land-based Filipino Workers, balanced said the employment rate in April 2023 stood at 95.5 percent, higher than 94.3 percent in April 2022 and 95.2 percent in January 2023.

“In terms of magnitude, the number of employed persons rose to 48.06 million in April 2023, from 45.63 million raised from 1 to 2 on Monday. safe to visit scenic Albay province and Taal town in Batangas during the June 10 to 12 long weekend, despite the unrest of both Taal and Mayon volcanoes.

Due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards, the agency has recommended evacuation from the sixkilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised, it added.

Ash fall events may occur most likely on the south side of Mayon considering the current prevailing wind pattern. A thin layer of ash fall was detected in nearby areas.

The PDCs, Bacolcol said, were fastmoving and could reach up to hundreds of kilometers per hour. Phivolcs said in its June 9 morning bulletin there were 199 rockfall events recorded.

Bacolcol said several parameters were being monitored before the alert level status would be raised.

"For example, if sulfur dioxide emissions go up, because right now, it’s at 332 tons a day, which is even lower than the background level of 500 tons a day,” he said in Filipino.

Volcanic earthquakes are also taken into account.

“Yesterday, we recorded no volcanic earthquakes. Between June 5 and 8, there were only two. So those are the parameters we look at,” he said.

He reminded the public to avoid entering the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone due to the possibility of rockfall and landslides or even a sudden eruption.

Phivolcs officer-in-charge Teresito

Bacolcol said the public should wear face masks if they decide to go to Taal due to the presence of volcanic smog, which has reached the towns of Laurel, Talisay, and Agoncillo in Batangas.

“It’s safe as long as we protect ourselves by wearing face masks,” Bacolcol said in Filipino. “We are used to wearing face masks because of the pandemic. So let us wear face masks to protect ourselves from the volcanic smog.” attainable water conservation measures that will result in ten percent water volume reduction of their respective first quarter (January to March 2023) water consumption."

The President also instructed the Local Water Utilities Administration, National Water Resources Board, and the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System to do the same. Private water service providers (WSPs) are enjoined to submit to the WRMO a monthly supply-demand projection to determine a possible deficit in water supply in the near future.

"National government-run WSPs are hereby directed, and local governmentrun WSPs are hereby encouraged, to immediately complete their projects to reduce non-revenue water and upgrade their distribution pipes," the President said.

"Local government units are encouraged to process the requests of WSPs for waterworks within a reasonable period of time," he added in the memorandum.

President Marcos also said the WRMO "shall identify strategies towards water conservation measures and provide quarterly updates to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, on the progress thereof." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Co said the brownout was caused by a power shortage traced to substation roadway 2. “As a background today, there was a scheduled electrical audit that was being done, by of course, MIAA and Mserv (a Meralco company). This is still part of our power services improvement because of the May 1 incident. So, today there was a testing that was being done at roadway and simplified to adhere to day-to-day operations and concerns of OFWs, according to Ople.

“Because the rules are simpler, it is also clearer what each licensed recruitment agency must do and follow. There is no need to look for a sponsor inside or outside the department,” she said during the signing event.

“We aim for a rights-based approach in the same period of 2022. The number of employed persons in April 2023 was also higher than the reported 47.35 million employed persons in January 2023,” Mapa said.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government aims to sustain the recent improvements in the country's labor market by implementing crucial economic reforms and leveraging digital technology to enhance workers' employability.

"To ensure the continuation of this trend, the government affirms its commitment to the unimpeded implementation of economic liberalization reforms and other

Bacolcol said there are two possible events that may happen.

“This heightened rockfall activity at Mayon could be interpreted as the initial signs of a possible magmatic eruption, or it may also cease just like what happened in 2014 after rock fall events there was a minor lava flow, and then the activity ceased,” he said.

The first scenario is similar to the 2018 eruption wherein the rockfall activity progressed into magmatic eruptions.

If the alert level would be raised to 4, this “would mean there is an imminent hazardous eruption that is about to happen,” the Phivolcs chief said.

If it rains and Mayon emits sulfur dioxide in large quantities, acid rain may also occur, he said.

Meanwhile, Taal volcano, located about 50 kilometers south of Manila, has been releasing sulfur dioxide this week, blanketing surrounding areas in smog and prompting warnings for people to stay indoors.

Steam-rich plumes have been recorded rising two kilometers into the sky, the seismology agency said on Thursday. It has left the alert level at 1.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol has activated different teams in response to the ongoing activities of Mayon Volcano.

Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5), said in an interview the PNP-Bicol ensures maximum deployment of all response teams to help residents in Mayon-affected towns.

"We already activated the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) and Search

People visiting Albay, on the other hand, must avoid the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around Mayon, Bacolcol said.

“It’s safe to go to Albay as long as they don’t enter the permanent danger zones,” he added.

The Phivolcs chief reminded the public that permanent danger zones could be expanded if the alert status of Mayon went up.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs said volcanic activity in Mt. Kanlaon in Negros may be pointing towards higher chances of a phreatic eruption.

The volcano has been under Alert Level 1 since 2020 due to an increase in

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“Let’s ignore any political noise that comes our way. Let’s remain focused on helping President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and our Speaker Martin Romualdez in keeping the economy on the high growth path by enhancing conditions that would attract investments and create job and income opportunities for our people,” Gonzales Jr. said.

The head of the Party-list Coalition also expressed confidence that the House under Speaker Romualdez will maintain its "remarkable synergy" with the Executive branch into the second regular session and for the rest of the 19th Congress.

"We were elected to uplift the lives of our constituents and so far, the House has followed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s Agenda for Peace and Prosperity to a tee," Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, said.

"The House members who are true to this cause won't let any political noise derail the remarkable synergy that the legislature and executive currently have," he added.

The record number of bills and resolutions passed by the House during the first regular session of the 19th Congress

1 substation and roadway 2 substation by Mserv and MIAA,” he said.

Co said the checking included the breakers, circuit breakers, cable tests bus bars, relays, current transformers, and the other cables of these systems.

“That started around 7:45 a.m. This was a planned check of the base power facilities, so we can note what we have to improve on or what we have to change as and ease of doing business mindset to labor migration and migration governance. This new set of rights-based rules will ensure better protection and empowerment of our OFWs. Likewise, it will enable the industry to succeed and flourish,” the DMW chief added. She explained that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) already has an existing rule on the essential legislation. These efforts will be complemented by comprehensive collaboration among government entities and society as a whole to enhance the employability and productivity of our workforce," Balisacan said. He added that the government can capitalize on digital technologies to foster innovation, upgrade services, and effectively respond to the needs of the workforce. "Hence, the complete execution of the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act is also vital for equipping the workforce with digital technology skills and fostering innovation," he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) and Rescue Teams who shall be first to be deployed. We also activated a Critical Incident Monitoring Action Team that will be used to monitor and generate situational reports on the current condition of Mayon Volcano as essential steps in ensuring the safety of the Albayanos," Calubaquib said. low-frequency volcanic earthquakes. can be attributed to the “laser-focused” discipline of Romualdez in ensuring the passage of priority legislation, Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo said.

She also said logistical capabilities such as trucks and other vehicles were readied for use during the evacuation.

The Department of Agriculture's Regional Field Office V, meanwhile, advised farmers to place their animals in safer areas.

The Presidential Communications Office said the regional office also local farmers to secure all their farm equipment and machinery.

The authorities are preparing an inventory of the livestock population inside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, the PCO said.

The DA regional office has already positioned hauling trucks at Tabaco City and Camalig, Albay, and updated its seed reserves, the PCO added.

The vice mayor of Guinobatan, Albay said about 5,000 people were expected to be evacuated from their homes.

In a radio interview, Vice Mayor Anne Gemma Ongjoco said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised all the people within a seven-kilometer radius around the volcano to move to safer areas.

Ongjoco warned that it would be dangerous for tourists to try to view the volcano erupting, particularly if the rain pours.

Based on its latest monitoring, Phivolcs has observed at least three volcanic earthquakes, with the volcano's edifice inflated. On Monday, Kanlaon also emitted over 1,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.

Phivolcs Chief Science Research Specialist Maria Antonia Bornas said that while magmatic eruptions are still more dangerous than phreatic eruptions, they can still be worrisome.

“The problem with phreatic eruptions is that many such eruptions occur without precursory signals. In recent years, phreatic eruptions have killed more than magmatic eruptions,” she said.

This “very evident passion” lawmakers see in the House leader in his work ethic, Romualdo said, "is what they try to emulate," which is why the larger chamber was able to process a total of 9,600 measures -- 8,490 bills, 1,109 resolutions, and one petition.

“The only politics Speaker Romualdez engages in is the politics of completion, the accomplishment of the legislative goals the Marcos administration set, which he excellently executes by faithfully fulfilling his mandate both as an ordinary lawmaker and as a great leader of the House of Representatives,” he said.

Gonzales expressed confidence that the country “could do better than the World Bank forecast” for its GDP.

He said the first nine months of President Marcos in office “were a high growth period,” noting that the economy grew by 7.6 percent and 7.2 percent in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, and by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of this year.

“So barring calamitous man-made and natural events, we should be able to do six percent and even beat the World Bank forecast this year,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) part of the comprehensive electrical audit as mentioned previously,” he added.

Co explained the incident “was not a complete loss of power” for the airport because after 12:52 p.m., “our generators kicked in and as we were conducting all the checks so that we can reanalyze, of course there is a process so that we can get a first… the probable causes.”

But the power outage once again shows hiring of both land-based and sea-based OFWs.

However, Ople said that when she was tasked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to head the newly created department, she found the old rules difficult and complicated.

Following the directives issued by Marcos during his inaugural State of the Nation Address last year, Ople said that they immediately worked on the