Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction

In the case of Western Visayas, the Filipino bayanihan spirit was evident when government, private sectors and the citizens worked hand in hand to fight the pandemic. Ilonggos chose to help each other amid the crisis through innovative and creative actions while promoting positivism. Ingenious and colorful designs of PPEs were created by a group of local fashion designers, generating optimistic vibes among the weary health workers. In coordination with the LGUs, the group of local bakers produced Ilonggo pandesal, which has become part of the relief package distributed to Iloilo City residents during the ECQ. In some parts of the regions, rice and vegetable produced by local farmers were directly purchased by the LGUs and become part of the food packs and relief goods distributed to their respective constituents. State universities and colleges, the private sector groups and cooperatives also rose to the occasion by making washables masks and PPEs that were distributed to health workers and frontliners in the district and provincial hospitals. Public and private higher education and private persons pooled their resources, facilities and expertise to establish a testing center in the region.

Local artists for theatre, film, dance and music used various online multimedia platforms to showcase their work and entertain people while campaigning to raise funds for the frontliners and encourage people to stay at home. Notably, many of these local artists and artisans lost their sources of income during the ECQ. Most of them are independent, freelance, and have no regular income and are dependent on individual projects for a particular period. As such, most are not qualified to benefit from any financial assistance from DOLE, DSWD and DA except for relief goods that are generally distributed by the LGUs as members of the community.

The region is also home to two major indigenous groups, the Ati and Panay Bukidnon. Notable among the indigenous peoples is the traditional value of ‘respect to the community leader or elders’. This value is handed down through generations and made them more respectful to follow the rules that are rolled out to them by their leader. This same value made the indigenous peoples more abiding to the rules and regulations implemented during the implementation of ECQ. Following the rules of ECQ and of stay-at-home policy, in the same manner of following their community rules set by their leaders, make the indigenous peoples to remain in the safety of their community and less exposed to COVID-19. The downside however, is that, they too are not exempted from losing their income as they are unable to go to the town and earn a living. Moreover, they also have limited access to any online platform and other health facilities.

Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction

The pandemic has affected the vulnerable groups of the society such as children, women, elderly, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, informal settlers, OFWs, farmers, fisherfolks, drivers of public utility vehicles, formal and informal workers and other sectors. This limits their access to livelihood and basic social services such as health, education, food and nutrition, water and sanitation to include information, communication and transportation. The lack of access to livelihood and coping mechanisms could further result to violence against children and women, reproductive health issues, as well as other forms of violence. The situation is still rapidly evolving and global economic developments, international travel restrictions and movement restriction measures throughout the country need to be further assessed in light of their economic impact.