BACOLOD City – Thousands of workers of private firms in this city are at immediate risk of losing their jobs as businesses take a hit from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said.
Familiaran, who chairs the city’s COVID-19 task force, revealed that several hotels here have signified their intention to halt operation.
“Several establishment owners are now processing documents at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for their closure caused by COVID-19 pandemic,” the vice mayor said.
He added: “Because of the pandemic, there are no more guests booking in hotels and it is because also that there were no more festival celebrations. ”
“They cannot cope up with their expenses like the payment for electricity, salaries of their employees and among others,” Familiaran stressed.
Aside from hotels, Familiaran said he received information that several call centers agents were retrenched from their companies because their clients abroad have stopped their transactions.
The city government imposed an enhanced community quarantine in the country last March 15, which included strict stay-at-home orders and suspension of on-site work operations to further avert the spread of the virus.
On June 1, the city government eased quarantine measures and allowed some businesses to gradually resume their operations./PN
