世界发展银行-Impacts-of-COVID-19-on-Communities-in-the-Philippines---Results-from-the-Philippines-High-Frequency-Social-Monitoring-of-COVID-19-Impacts-Round-2,-April-8-14,-2021_9页_454kb

Summary of the Impacts of COVID-19 on Communities in the Philippines (Round 2: April 8-14, 2021)

Core Content

The document presents findings from the second round of a high-frequency social monitoring survey conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines. The survey focused on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poorest and most vulnerable rural communities, particularly in terms of economic conditions, social safety nets, education, and government services.

Main Findings

1. Public Awareness and Perception of the Vaccine

• Sources of Information: Health practitioners (78%), media (77%), and government materials (56%) were the primary sources of information about the vaccine.
• Concerns: The top concerns were vaccine safety (86%) and effectiveness (60%).
• Preferred Information Providers: Doctors and health professionals (89%), local government units (54%), and media (39%) were preferred for vaccine-related information.
• Priority Groups for Vaccination: Health workers (81%), senior citizens (72%), and government officials (45%) were identified as the top priority groups.
• Accessibility Issues: Senior citizens (78%), people with disabilities (44%), and children (39%) faced difficulties in accessing vaccines due to health reasons (69%), transportation (22%), and costs (18%).

2. Social Safety Nets

• Assistance Sources: City/municipal government (75%), barangays (68%), and national government (56%) were the main sources of assistance.
• Preferred Assistance Types: Food (59%), cash (50%), and livelihood (50%) assistance were most preferred.
• Vulnerable Groups: Senior citizens (46%), disaster victims (36%), and IPs (33%) needed more assistance.
• Income Loss: Lack of income was the most significant problem (98%), mainly due to loss of employment and limited opportunities.
• Health Access Improvement: Access to health facilities improved, with only 11% reporting lack of access compared to 19% in the first round.

3. Economic Impact

• Job Losses: Construction workers (56%) and public transport drivers (52%) were most affected by job cuts.
• Gender Impact: Men and women were equally affected by job losses.
• Sector Trends: There was a slight decrease in job losses in various sectors, with formal retail showing the most improvement (13% decrease).
• IP Communities: Economic conditions in barangays with IP communities remained stable, while those in non-IP barangays worsened.

4. Government Services and Health Protocols

• Health Protocols: 64% of respondents believed protocols like social distancing were implemented well, but 75% felt they could be strengthened.
• Health Workers: 75% of respondents reported no change in the number of barangay health workers (BHWs), while 20% hired more due to increased patient needs.
• Non-COVID Patients: 55% of communities reported no change in non-COVID patient volume, while 35% noted an increase.

5. Social Cohesion and Peace and Order Issues

• Peace and Order Problems: Increased from 26% in R1 to 78% in R2, with employment loss (26%) becoming the main cause.
• Discrimination: Rose from 25% to 30%, with the most affected groups being COVID-19 patients (41%), stranded individuals (25%), and healthcare workers (15%).
• Violence and Harassment: No increase in cases of sexual harassment, rape, or domestic violence (94% of communities reported no change).

6. Education and Distance Learning

• Effectiveness: Distance learning was perceived as only 20-50% effective by 30% of respondents, 50-80% effective by 28%, and less than 20% effective by 25%.
• Top Concerns: Limited access to learning gadgets (45%), learning losses (42%), and lack of guidance from household members (36%).
• Preferred Modality: Paper-based modules were the most preferred (92%), followed by online classes (23%).
• Return to In-Person Learning: Respondents believed in-person classes should resume when the national government allows and when vaccines are widely available.

Key Information

• The survey covered 200 respondents from NCDDP communities in nine regions.
• The Philippine government implemented varying quarantine levels based on key indicators.
• By March 2021, Metro Manila and surrounding provinces were placed under ECQ due to rising cases.
• The survey highlighted the need for more inclusive and accessible vaccination strategies and improved distance learning support.

Conclusion

The survey underscores the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable communities in the Philippines due to the pandemic, including economic hardship, limited access to education, and social cohesion issues. It also highlights the importance of strengthening health protocols, improving access to vaccines, and enhancing distance learning systems. The World Bank and DSWD continue to support recovery efforts through targeted interventions and real-time monitoring.