“Economic Challenges”

Filipinos have faced several economic challenges, especially during the pandemic outbreak.
Poverty is one of the Philippines' current economic challenges, as well as one of the country's
long-standing problems that has been worsened by the pandemic. Many establishments were
forced to close, resulting in the unemployment of millions of Filipinos. According to the
Philippines Statistics Authority, unemployment rose to 17.6% in April 2020 due to the COVID-
19 pandemic. Because of this, many families are saying that their homes are not getting
enough food and resorted to begging. Another current economic challenge of the Philippines is
disruption of major economic activities due to the pandemic such as tourism.Before COVID-19,
travel and tourism had become one of the most important sectors in the world economy but it
was negatively affected due to travel restrictions and lockdown. According to Secretary
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of the Department of Tourism, tourism decreases 68% from January
to June 2020.