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.

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.