(Dahil sa COVID-19 crisis) PH FACTORY SECTOR TULOY SA PAGBULUSOK

PATULOY na bumagsak ang Philippine manufacturing sector noong Abril kung saan nagtala ito ng bagong record low sa IHS Markit monthly survey dahil sa pagsasara ng mga pabrika dulot ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Ang IHS Markit Philippines Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) ay bumaba sa 31.6 noong Abril mula sa 29.7 noong Marso at sa  50.9 noong Abril 2019.

“The PMI is a composite indicator of the manufacturing sector’s performance, with 50.0 as the threshold. A reading above 50 indicates growth and below 50 is a contraction,” ayon sa IHS Markit.

“The Philippines Manufacturing PMI joined a chorus of data demonstrating the widespread and severe impact of lockdown measures on the global economy in April,” wika ninDavid Owen, economist sa IHS Markit, sa isang komentaryo.

“The headline PMI posted 31.6, another record low after March’s dismal figure. Output declined at a rapid pace, signalling that industrial production data is likely to be bleak during the lockdown period,” paliwanag niya.

Ang Metro Manila ay naka-lockdown magmula pa noong Marso 17, kung saan ang enhanced community quarantine sa lugar ay dalawang beses na pinalawig hanggang Mayo 15.

Ayon sa IHS Markit, dahil sa lockdown ay bumaba ang production levels.

“A key factor in this crisis will be employment. April data suggested the decline in job numbers softened from March, though it was still marked overall. However, a quick return to activity may bring about a strong recovery in jobs,” ani Owen.

Sa datos ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mahigit sa  2 million workers ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa quarantine measures na layong mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.

“Manufacturers also face difficulties with both overseas supply and demand, with exports falling sharply and supply chains struggling amid the pandemic,” dagdag pa ni Owen.