Market vendors in Tagbilaran’s key markets (e.g. Dao, Cogon, and Manga) experienced an overall decline in sales. Meat, fish, and seafood vendors experienced the sharpest decline as consumers switched to cheaper alternatives.
After the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine, sales started to increase slowly, but recovery is not yet in sight.
Employees and employees we surveyed felt that the top negative impacts of COVID-19 are decrease in income (35.4%), difficulty in buying necessities (32.3%) and depression and anxiety (19.2%).
Despite these, they also reported positive effects brought about by the pandemic. Because of limited movement, almost half (49.2%) reported that they now have more time to for their families. Some (24.9) were able to pursue their hobbies like cooking, gardening, sewing, while others (22.6%) were able to find new ways of generating other sources of income.
When asked what should be the focus of the City Government of Tagbilaran, workers and employees surveyed prioritized the following:
How do you think the city performed in this three areas?
The top concern of employees and workers is contracting the virus that would lead to increase in the number of COVID + people (3rd in rank) and consequently impacting on the capacity of the health care system to respond (5th in rank).
Financial insecurity due to job loss is their second most pressing concern while economic recession is ranked 4th.
Based on focus group discussions with employees and workers, their ability to work is dependent on their health, and thus they fear that they or their family members will test COVID-19 positive.
The top three assistance that workers and employees need are (1) payroll subsidy, (2) deferment of utility bills, and (3) low interest loans. All of these measures can help them extend the amount of money that they have and survive the pandemic.
Unfortunately, no one among the employees we surveyed was able to receive assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-CAMP). However, almost everyone (90%) received assistance from the City Government of Tagbilaran. The remaining 10% are those that are not qualified (e.g. they are not residents of the city).
DOLE CAMP has been reported to be grossly insufficient to meet the needs of qualified employees/workers. Based on DOLE’s records, only 99 businesses out of the 16,529 registered businesses in Tagbilaran had workers who benefitted from the program.
29% of employees and workers expressed the likelihood of getting depressed.
26% of employees and workers are worried they might contract the virus.
21% of employees and workers see the likelihood that they will lose their jobs in the next six months.
These call for really concrete measures in combating mental health, containing the spread of the virus, and protecting jobs.
Businesses that are primarily reliant on customers based outside of Bohol (e.g. tourists, external domestic and foreign buyers) face the greatest risk of closure.
With inbound and outbound travel restrictions and difficulties in transporting goods from the province to outside customers, they will be the one who will likely lose out.
As earlier pointed out, the tourism sector is the one of those badly hit by the pandemic. Since March 2020, flights to and from Bohol have been cancelled. This led to severe losses in revenues in hotels, restaurants, and transport service providers.
Workers we surveyed identified a few positive effects of the pandemic. Some (45%) said they now have more time to spend with their family, while a few others said they are now able to pursue their hobbies (25%), engage in income-generating activities (23%), and connect with friends (21%).
However, the pandemic also start to impact on workers’ psycho-social and emotional health. A few workers report feelings of anxiety (35%) and depression (19%), increased quarrels at home (5$), and having bad dreams (4%).
4 out of 10 workers we surveyed experienced a significant decrease in income while 2 out of 10 workers lost jobs temporarily or permanently.
Among the sectors, 9 out of 10 workers in the tourism sector felt the negative impact of COVID 19 on their income, work, or source of livelihood. This is followed by those working in the service sector where 5 out of 10 reported the same.
Only those working in the government were not affected by COVID-19 as most receive their salaries even with reduced working hours.
It is important to note here, that for every one person who lost his/her job, at least 3 other people are affected. Most employees are supporting two other people besides themselves.
As earlier reported in the case of businesses, the service sector is the worst hit, even for employees or workers. Across Tagbilaran City’s 15 barangays, those working in the service sector are the ones most affected by the pandemic. 5,154 jobs is equivalent to 73% of total jobs lost when Enhanced Community Quarantine was imposed in the city.
Those working in the transport sector also lost jobs. At least 846 workers in the sector (from drivers of public utility vehicles to company drivers and tourist van operators) lost their main source of income because of mobility restrictions.
How many of these jobs will be able to recover? Another rapid job loss survey is needed to determine this. If you want to support this, please let us know.
Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Tagbilaran City 