EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN TIME OF COVID 19

Joseph M. Cardino

(Photo gets from google)

Everyone was surprised and became devastated when the Corona Virus or known as COVID - 19
entered our country. The risks and impacts of it continues as of now. Base on the report of the Department
of Health (DOH), as of May 27, 2021, we have a total of 1,200,430 covid cases in our country and
unfortunately it continues to grow. Many lives were affected by it. Our country felt the strike in different
aspects like in transportation, tourism, unemployment and etc. The economy suddenly went down and it
became alarming.
The Government addressed the problem by making measurements and safety precautions. They
came up with the solution of community lockdowns, strict quarantine protocols, and new normal policies.
One of the most noticeable consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is unemployment.
It has an impact on how businesses will operate. Businesses are closed and by that many workers lost their
jobs. It really had a devastating effect on the low-income communities. The struggle of these people was
on how they will support their families through providing food to them.
Based on Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the unemployment rate as of March was
3.44 million and its lower than the months of January and February. Compared last year, the people get job
slowly and find ways to feed their families. But indeed, many of them still have no ways of doing it. The
DOLE, started to allow business to reopen but the owners and workers should be vaccinated.
The data presents that over 65% of the workforce are vulnerable to financial challenges due to the lockdown.
In this survey it was shown the effect of the pandemic to the people who lost their jobs. Based on the graph
below 78.1% of household with an income of less than 9,500 pesos per month lost their jobs. For every
earn of 190,400 pesos there is only 33.33% lost their job. We can say that the people that’s in the poor
sector are more affected in terms o the unemployment due to the closing of businesses.
 It may not be a real problem to others that do not experience the lost of job or struggling on how
they will feed their families. Because they have savings, option of having work from home and
experiencing support or financial assistance. But the poor one, just waiting for “ayuda” like relief goods
and other financial assistance from the Government. Which sometimes was not enough. This is the thing
that is happening in our country. That’s why some don’t hesitate to ignore health protocols just to provide
food for their families. Some being desperate to ask help to others by putting signages to get donations.

(Photo gets from google)

I did experience to volunteer in our Barangay and to be part of the Frontliner. I was put in the
team of relief goods, where we repack and gave the relief house to house. It’s really risky for my side
because I might be affected by Covid but until now I didn’t experience it. Many people in our barangay
were depending on the relief, because they don’t have jobs to buy or afford food for their families. Until
not all have stable jobs and depend on the financial assistance from the government. The second thing we
did is to open “Community Pantry”. This pantry serves as to help the low-income people in small ways.
 Picture from preparation for Picture from preparation for
Community Pantry Relief Giving

In the long duration of the pandemic, the consumer choice becomes different or changing.
Catering people with less money or in a budget is needed to consider. Due to having a tight budget of
people the businesses are thinking of strategies to cater them. Consumer tends to buy cheaper and
unhealthy foods. Some are still jobless or have no stable jobs that makes their low capability of buying.
Another thing is that the income of the people becomes lower, the price of food rises.
It shows in this time of pandemic the gap of social classes that way further widens. Though it can
be also disregarded social classes because people tend to help each other. Covid 19 really makes our lives
upsetting but in times of this pandemic we saw the “Bayanihan” spirit of the Filipino people.
 References:

LABOR DAY: Impact of COVID-19 on employment (2020, May 1). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from
https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/01/20/labor-day-impact-of-covid-19-on-employment

Gavilan and Talabong (2020, April 2). 'WALANG-WALA NA': Poor Filipinos fear death from hunger
more than coronavirus. Retrieved May 26, 2020 from
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/indepth/256695-poor-filipinos-fear-death-from-hunger-
more-than-coronavirus

Dancel, R. (2020). Philippines’ unemployment rate at record high in april. The Strait Times. Retrieved from:
https://static.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fspublic/articles/2020/06/06/st_20200606_xjobs_57210142.jpg

Sanchez, M. (2020). Economic impact of coronavirus covid-19 Philippines 2020. Staista. Retrieved from:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126519/philippines-impact-ononline-purchase-behavior-covid-19-
by-age-group/