COPING WITH THE PANDEMIA: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE
EFFECTS OF COVID-19 TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE RESIDENTS
OF BRGY. POBLACION, DINAS, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
A research paper presented
by
Research Problem:
To determine the effects of COVID-19 to the livelihood of the people of Brgy. Poblacion, Dinas,
Zamboanga del Sur and how did they cope with their day-to-day living despite the lockdowns
and travel restrictions.
Research Questions:
1. Is there an effect to their livelihood?
2. What are their ways of dealing with the pandemic?
3. What are the government efforts that helped them sustain their livelihood?
4. What are the other effects of the pandemic on each of their families?
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is a global phenomenon that is heavily affecting
the lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing of the entire population, the degree and severity of its effects
are different among groups and sectors. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is a global
phenomenon that is heavily affecting the lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing of the entire
population, the degree and severity of its effects are different among groups and sectors.
(Asegie,2021)
The pandemic's global economic upheaval is shuttering shops and offices. Those able to
do so are now working remotely from their homes. They join workers who have always been
working remotely: freelancers who earn some or all of their income from projects secured via
online labor platforms. The research data shows online labor demand falling rapidly in early
March 2020, but with an equally rapid recovery. The research also found significant differences
between countries and occupations. Data from interviews make clear jobs are increasingly scarce
even as more people are creating profiles and seeking freelance work online. (Stephany,2020)
In a research conducted by Sifat et. Al,2022, The COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh
has left hijra individuals at an increased risk of poverty and food insecurity due to the economic
crisis. COVID-19 challenges the fundamental foundation of the public health system, and now
the hijra group is out of the system because of stigma and discrimination. This article features
three focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted by 23 respondents about their experiences
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following research aimed to understand the health, mental
stress, and social and economic effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the lives of deprived and
marginalized hijra people in Bangladesh. The results reflect the effect of COVID-19 in terms of
social, health care, and mental health problems on the hijra community in Bangladesh. In the
aftermath of the pandemic, their disadvantaged and socially excluded status makes the hijra
population more vulnerable to being affected by the virus and facing its economic and social
impacts. The conclusion presents that hijra people are assumed to suffer under the severity of the
pandemic even more than the general population due to the intersections between their status as a
vulnerable social group and their high level of medical risk factors.
However, measures were taken by the Philippine Government. A study by Biñas, 2020
assesses the economic security of the Municipality of Ma-ayon, Capiz, Philippines, in terms of
livelihood, production, income, market accessibility, and health to determine the extent of the
consequence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the residents. The study evaluates the
responses provided by the government, private nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and
international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs). Residents’ strategies to cope with the
pandemic were also determined. Results showed that families received cash and food assistance
from the local government and other concerned INGOs, which was given to augment the
expenses for food, and health. The families also coped with the food shortage by minimizing the
number of daily meals and by replacing rice in meals with vegetables and root crops.
