Table 5. Rates of Employment and Unemployment, 2018-2021, Western Visayas

Table 5. Rates of Employment and Unemployment, 2018-2021, Western Visayas

Employed

Employment Rate

Unemployment Rate Source: PSA-VI

2018 2019 2020 2021 (July)

3,164,893 3,014,144 2,933,911 94.70 94.15 92.10 93.7 5.30 5.85 7.90 6.3

The employment rate is expected to increase in the first and second quarters of 2022, anticipating a higher demand for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged houses and structures, replanting of agricultural products, as well as election-related services.

Taxes and Revenues

A slight reduction in tax revenues in the affected areas is expected given the minimal contribution of the most affected sectors such as the marginalized farmers, fisherfolk, and MSMEs in tax revenues. Late payment of real property and income taxes is also foreseen though its effect would be manageable.

On importations of donated relief consignments, LGUs and private or non-government organizations (NGOs) in areas declared under a State of Calamity may apply for Tax Exemption Indorsements (TEIs) to facilitate the quick release of donated items. The TEI covers relief consignments like food, medicine, equipment and materials for shelter, vehicles and other means of transport that are donated or leased to government institutions and accredited private entities for free distribution to the affected population or use during relief and rescue operations in disaster-affected areas.

Infrastructure Sector

The torrential rains and strong winds brought by Typhoon Odette as it swept across Western Visayas affected millions of people and damaged billions worth of vital infrastructure facilities. These include transport facilities, utility lines, flood control and drainage systems, irrigation projects, government buildings and civic centers, health units, school buildings and tourism sites. In the aftermath of the typhoon, the damage to vital infrastructure facilities limited the mobility and access of people to life-saving goods, hindered immediate disaster response in the affected areas, and further aggravated the already dire situation of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the damaged infrastructure facilities are in the Province of Negros Occidental as it was directly hit by Typhoon Odette with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 240 km/h. Several infrastructure facilities were also affected in the Provinces of Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique and Aklan when the typhoon moved over and exited the Panay Gulf.

Overall damage to the infrastructure sector amounted to PhP5.274 billion based on the PDNA report. This data takes into account the amount of structural damage and losses of the subsectors, not just of the infrastructure sector but also of the productive and social sectors. However, the data for housing and settlement was not included in this