95% Cordilleran labor force employed in 2007

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Reporting on Millenium Development Goals

BAGUIO CITY ― Most Cordillerans were considered employed last year with the statistics showing a glaring 94.6% of the region’s labor force employed. In October 2006, the figure is even higher at 95.3%.

As of April, 2008 the employment rate in the region is a high of 95.1%, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) in its website. This represents only the first quarter of 2008 and the figures can go higher, the labor department noted.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have subsequently signed up to them, including the Philippines.

The eight Millennium Development Goals have to the with the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; primary education; gender equality and women empowerment; reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal health; eradication of communicable diseases like malaria and HIV-AIDS; environmental sustainability and global partnership for development.

The goal for poverty and hunger is to reduce to half the proportion of people whose income is less than a dollar a day and halving the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015.

Here’s the catch

In a press conference Tuesday, Atty. Ana Dione, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said the employment statistics include those who have worked for at least one hour last year.

The unemployment rate of 5.4% does not include those who are idle but are not looking for jobs, added Dione.

The 1.045 million labor force in 2006 includes those able-bodied 15 year-old and above, according to Dione. Of the 1.5 million population in 2007, 58.6 are in the 15-64 age groups; 37.3% are below 15 years old.

Of the employed, the informal sector might comprise a large portion, Dione said, adding market vendors and small scale miners are included in the enumeration. She said the survey is still being processed.

Vendors and small scale miners, though both considered illegal because they ply their trade without necessary permits or licenses, are included in the employment enumeration, according to Dione.

Poverty incidence higher

Meanwhile NSCB Director Benjamin Y. Navarro said the poverty incidence in the Cordillera worsened in a three-year period from 25.8% in 2003 to 28% in 2006.

“Three of 10 families in the region are poor or consider themselves poor in a 2006 family income and expenditure survey, “ said Navarro. He said more families are poorer than in 2003 when one of four families are poor.

Apayao and Abra are still the poorest of the six Cordillera provinces, with poverty incidence of 57.5% and 50.1%, respectively.

Tanudan and Tinglayan towns in Kalinga were ranked 2nd and 12th nationwide for having the highest poverty incidences, with 88.06 percent and 82.14 percent respectively.  Two more Kalinga municipalities, Pasil and Pinukpuk are among the twenty poorest in the Cordillera, according to the NSCB.

There are no updates on the statistics yet, said Navarro.

The realities speak louder

Although Department of Trade and Industry’s Director Carmelita Usman said prices in the region are lower than the standard prices and the suggested retail price, many ordinary housekeepers cringe over the high cost of living.

She said the price of steel bars even decreased, saying a 10mm bar now costs P155 from P230 in June.

In an informal discussions with some women at the Baguio City public market, the skyrocketing prices of prime commodities is a favorite topic.

“Rice prices have not been stable and there is no way it would go lower than P25 a kilo,” Tina, a housekeeper said. She added she would line up for a three-kilo rice ration every Saturday to get it at P19.00 instead of P18.25 as prescribed earlier.

Poultry meat rose from P110 in January to P150 per kilo in October. “Diak to pay ammon ti presyo ti giniling a karne ti baka,” (I do not even know the price of ground beef) another woman told Nordis. Beef is now P220. # Lyn V. Ramo