The Zero Extreme Poverty Philippines (ZEP) 2030 coalition and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted Phase III of the COVID PULSE PH Survey this 2021 in order to assess the condition of poor and low-income households during the pandemic, provision of support to such households, and their capabilities for sustainable livelihood. This assessment is done at the meso and micro levels of provinces and municipalities.
Included in Phase III are the province of Eastern Samar and 10 of its 23 cities/municipalities, namely: Arteche, Borongan City, Dolores, Guiuan, Lawaan, Llorente, Oras, Quinapondan, Salcedo, and Sulat.
The Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs (EVNet), a regional member network of CODE-NGO, participates in the Eastern Samar sprint team which would engage the local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders towards establishing a ZEP local convergence in the province.
We share below select survey findings from 3,691 respondents, the majority of whom are aged 18-40 years. More than 50% have 4-6 household members. Almost one-third are from the women sector, while the rest belong to the sectors of youth, farmers, labor and service workers, and entrepreneurs.
Nine out of every 10 respondents have a monthly income of less than Php 10,000 ($200). Slightly more than half (55%) depend on informal sources of income. The top three kinds of work they do are contractual work (partial or no benefits); seasonal, casual, seasonal, or allowance-based work; and ambulant vending.
- Impact of COVID-19 in 2020
- 76% said their income decreased; 50% experienced hunger
- Did income recover in 2021?
- Six out of 10 said income worsened this March 2021 compared to last year.
- What prevented recovery?
- Difficult to maintain regular income due to COVID-19 restrictions
- Currently have a source of income but revenue is lower this year
- Unable to find regular work or livelihood
- What helped in recovery?
- Sideline work or business
- Received support from government
- Received support from family or friends
- What assets can we build on?
- 58% have basic business skills
- 39% knows how to do online work or business
- 37% have technical-vocational skills
- Which household variables are associated with better income recovery?
- Social protection makes a difference
- Access to safety nets (ex. savings, help from social network, aid from government)
- Having savings for emergency or capital for business
- Top aspirations
- Good livelihood
- Enough quality food and basic needs
- Quality education for children
- Opportunity Interest
- 51% Business
- 49% Employment
- Top Industry Interests
- Wholesale/Retail Trade
- Agriculture/Fisheries
- Information Technology
- Transversal skills for the new normal
- Have discipline and ability to learn independently
- Resourceful and enterprising
- Has initiative and hardworking
The select findings will be used to inform response and early recovery, and to frame socio-economic policies, programs, and projects on social protection and microenterprise. Through the ZEP 2030, we aim to have LGUs, civil society organizations, and business groups work together for collective impact in Eastern Samar.
The ZEP-UNDP COVID PULSE PH Survey is powered by AI4Gov, CODE-NGO, Central Visayas Network of NGOs (CENVISNET), Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA), and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM).
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