POLICY NOTE NO.

4 / 26 April 2020

ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF ALL,

ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE SECTORS:
ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team

Problem Situation

Social, economic, and political inequalities are starkly manifested in times of

disasters. The unequal distribution of power, wealth, privilege, and opportunities
in societies and among individuals results in disparate vulnerabilities and
resilience to humanitarian crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it
becomes even more critical to ensure the inclusion and meaningful participation
of the vulnerable and excluded, and to address differentiated economic and
social needs. Particular and exigent attention should be directed to individuals
and groups already marginalized on the basis of gender, socio-economic class,
age, disability, ethnicity, and other intersectional identities given their inordinate
exposure to risk, loss, harm, and suffering. If interventions do not take these into
consideration, not only will existing inequalities be exacerbated, the physical,
mental, and psychosocial well-being, safety, and security of those belonging to
the most disadvantaged sectors will be adversely impacted.

We argue for universal approaches to social protection based on the belief that
they cast a wider net of support to include people at the edge of poverty, and,
by design, can better address situations of generalized insecurity and, as what
we have today, a widespread humanitarian crisis. It is the universal provision of
benefits and assistance that will provide greater assurance that the poorest and

most socially excluded will be reached. Universal approaches also strengthen

social solidarity and cohesion, which are prerequisites of an equitable society and
will allow us to better address pervasive poverty and inequality.

Key Recommendations

1. Adopt more universal/inclusive, rights-based, and lifecycle

approaches to social protection given the widening and deepening
poverty levels and generalized insecurity among the population due
to the Covid-19 pandemic

Since everyone is vulnerable to various shocks and risks across one’s lifetime -
illnesses, accidents, drought, floods and pandemics such as what we are now
collectively experiencing - adequate social protection should be made available
and accessible to all. This will help ensure that the dignity and well-being of
everyone are upheld at all times. This is as a matter of right and entitlement -not
a handout or charity - with citizens as claim-holders and the State as duty-
bearers. Recognizing that there may be certain prevailing constraints to our
collective striving of a more inclusive social protection system, however, we
adhere to the notion of its progressive realization.

In designing more inclusive, rights-based, and lifecycle social protection

schemes, let us avoid negative narratives of poverty (e.g. poverty as the result of
individual failings while ignoring the structural dimensions) and “the deserving
and undeserving poor” which lead to “fragmenting service delivery systems
based on different audiences (services for the poorest, the non-poor, those more
prone to shocks and risks, etc.),” and often to the significant exclusion of those
who need help thereby undermining our adherence to the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) of “leave no one behind”.1

1
Barrantes, A., 2020, Why are human rights considerations fundamental to inclusive and
lifecycle social protection systems? Pathways’ Perspectives on Social Policy in International
Development, (30), p. 9. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3cMt9s6.

Furthermore, using more inclusive approaches does the following :

• It significantly reduces exclusion because every family should benefit;
• It expedites the delivery of assistance;
• It is less administratively taxing on national and local administrative
systems;
• It reduces politicizing aid and accusations of palakasan;
• It promotes the spirit of social cohesion and social solidarity - important
public values that we need to cultivate;
• It does away with stigma for those who receive the aid.

2. Promote inter-LGU equity in the provision of social protection

assistance

LGUs play a central role in the delivery of social protection assistance to address
the humanitarian crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we
observe the varying capacities and competence of LGUs in ensuring swift,
efficient, and effective responses. As such, in order to promote inter-LGU equity
in the delivery of social protection assistance, we urge the DILG to not only
monitor LGU compliance with current rules and regulations, but as importantly,
to assist and help capacitate weaker LGUs in this regard. Additionally, the
effectual strategies and practices of LGUs in meeting the exigencies that emerge
from the crisis can be shared with and replicated by the others.

3. Address the vital needs of the basic sectors, taking into

consideration distinct and particular vulnerabilities

All basic sectors2 must be provided social protection, including income and food
security; quality health care; constant water supply and sanitation services;
regular, accurate, and accessible public health messages on COVID-19 in easy
to understand formats, particularly for persons with disabilities, indigenous

2
According to R.A. 8425, the basic sectors cover the following: farmers and landless rural
workers, artisanal fisher folk, urban poor, indigenous people and cultural communities, workers
in formal labor and migrant workers, workers in the informal sector, women, children, youth and
students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, victims of disasters and calamities, non-
governmental organizations, and cooperatives.

peoples, and other vulnerable groups; and venues to participate in decision-

making. In particular, there should be free and accessible COVID-19 testing and
treatment for all who are in need of these; decent and safe isolation areas with
food and medical care for persons with mild symptoms, or those under
investigation or monitoring due to exposure; and burial assistance (e.g., free
crematorium services as seen in Quezon City) for COVID-19 fatalities. Hygiene
kits should be distributed along with food packs. Access to disinfectants, wash
stations, and personal and protective equipment (PPE) should be ensured for all
frontliners not only in the health care sector but also among those rendering
essential services outside their homes.

Additionally, sector-specific priorities should be deemed equally urgent for

survival:

Persons with Disabilities

• Recognize that meeting disability-related needs are vital to increasing
the resiliency of persons with disabilities and their households.
Disability-related costs faced by persons with disabilities should be
taken into account as this is the major driver of poverty amongst
persons with disabilities.
• Ensure accessibility of information and communication systems
particularly in awareness-raising activities and service delivery.
• Work with organizations of persons with disabilities including
organizations representing children with disabilities.
• Ensure that persons with disabilities and their households benefit from
all social assistance related to COVID-19 responses provided to the
general population.
• LGUs must provide cash assistance to persons with disabilities under
the Assistance on Individuals in Crisis (AICS) program in coordination
with the DSWD to help cover disability-related extra costs such as
purchase of catheters, diapers, medicines, assistive products,
compensation for carers, sign-language interpreters, etc.
• Set up help lines at the local and national levels so that persons with
disabilities can ask for information or support.
• Ensure delivery of essential food and non-food items to persons with
disabilities isolated at home.

• Ensure that the implementation of all programs whether existing or in

response to COVID-19 crisis are disability-inclusive (disability-based
exclusion or restriction of benefits should be prevented).
• Ensure that transportation services are available and accessible to
persons with disabilities so that they can perform their tasks, whether
household-related such as going to the market, or health-related, such
as going to the hospital or clinic.

Older Persons
• Include all families living with older persons in the SAP regardless of
the elderly’s economic and pension status, and prioritize older persons
living with spouses only, those living alone, and the homeless. Indigent
senior citizens receiving benefits from the social pension program
should also be included in the SAP.
• Release the SAP benefit immediately. Hasten the signing of
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with LGUs to transfer program
funds as soon as possible. Worrying about when these funds will be
released or whether they are included or not causes undue stress that
can lead to depression or worsen their health condition.
• Immediately release the 2019 social pension of unpaid beneficiaries
and the 2020 first semester benefit of social pensioners.
• Utilize different payment delivery schemes (electronic, door-to-door
delivery, etc.) by maximizing available structures or systems in the
locality. If door-to-door and electronic schemes are not feasible and
pay-out shall be done in one place, greater flexibility should be
exercised to allow representatives, such as children, grandchildren, or
any close relatives to receive the pension on behalf of the pensioners.
• Exercise proper social distancing, and disinfect pay-out venues to
ensure that older persons and their representatives are safe from being
infected with the COVID-19 virus.
• Undertake all other procedures deemed necessary to keep older
persons safe from the COVID-19 virus.
• Use the old list of social pension beneficiaries to expedite the process
and avoid further delays of payments in areas where results of the
revalidation process for social pensioners are not yet completed.
• Identify, locate, and determine the situation of older persons in the
community and prioritize them in interventions.
• Establish a free delivery system to facilitate access to goods without
compelling older persons to leave their homes.

• Provide priority lanes and hours exclusively for older persons in drug
stores, supermarkets, and public markets, etc.
• Ensure safe access to and availability of needs such as food,
disinfectants, basic supplies, medicines, and mental health support.
• Provide free transportation in case of emergencies.
• Ensure age-friendly health care to end ageism and discrimination
against older persons.

Indigenous Peoples
• Ensure that assistance is not only adequate, timely, and effective, but
also culturally appropriate.
• Provide services and supplementary needs to beef up existing levels
of food security.
• Improve COVID-19 medical services in parts of the country that include
IP areas.
• Focus on the more vulnerable IP communities closer to metro centers
such as Manila (i.e. Dumagat Remontado of Rizal/Region IV and the
Agta/Aeta of Central Luzon).
• Guarantee the continued access of IPs to the natural resources
necessary for survival.
• Ensure access to accurate, sufficient, and regular information on
COVID-19 in their own languages.

Women and Gender

• Provide emergency interventions and psychosocial support for women
and LGBTQI persons who feel unsafe or experience gender-based
violence within their households. Barangay and Philippine National
Police (PNP) responses are crucial, which entail the immediate removal
of perpetrators from homes.
• Uphold women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights by ensuring
safe pregnancies and childbirth, and the availability/accessibility of
family planning commodities. Free and accessible distribution of
modern contraceptives and menstrual hygiene products must be done
at the community level by LGUs.
• Ensure the immediate availability of basic goods (e.g. through a mobile
palengke, free mobile phone load to ensure unimpeded
communication in emergencies) and services (e.g. visibility of barangay
health emergency response teams for health concerns).

• Include in public service messaging the sharing of domestic and care

tasks in households to alleviate women’s intensified burdens.
• Prioritize support for women frontliners and health volunteers (e.g. by
providing them with adequate protective gear).
• Mitigate the impact on livelihoods, particularly those in the informal
economy and in flexible employment.

Workers in the Informal Economy

• Ensure inclusion in the SAP of the working poor in the informal
economy
• Immediately expand and facilitate access to the currently very limited
Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers
(TUPAD) and other cash for work programs to cover workers in the
informal economy who are unable to work for the duration of the ECQ.
• Engage displaced vendors and other workers in the informal economy
to provide mobile markets and kitchens to reach out to communities
while observing physical distancing.
• Continue provision and extension of food and cash transfers to
indigent households, including those of the working poor as well as
the near poor or new poor resulting from the pandemic.
• Support home-based workers and others in the informal economy who
are producing masks, gowns, and other PPE, meals as well as transport,
delivery, packing, sorting, and other services to frontliners such as
health workers, traffic and law enforcers, etc.
• Support urban and peri-urban organic agriculture in addition to rural-
based food production efforts based on solidarity to ensure safe,
healthy, and balanced meals for all (to supplement/replace canned
goods and instant noodles which are customarily distributed in food
packs). Free distribution of seedlings and setting up of community
gardens and communal farms while observing physical distancing
should be done at the local level.
• Suspend payments for taxes, rentals, public utilities such as water and
electricity, health insurance and social security, and loans from
government sources.
• Facilitate loan restructuring for home-based and other informal
workers who have availed of micro-credit/loans from microfinance
institutions (MFIs) and other lending institutions (whether formal or
informal).

• Explore debt moratorium and relief from MFIs where possible,

including debt bail-outs to informal workers and MSMEs with support
from the national government.
• Provide subsidy and/or short-term low-interest loans to augment
income and restart micro-enterprises.
• Engage organized groups of workers in the informal economy to
facilitate identification, listing, prioritization, and mobilization of the
most vulnerable in the provision of social assistance, essential services,
and income augmentation.
• Source products from farmers, fisher groups, and communities, as well
as home-based workers and micro-entrepreneurs for mobile markets.
• Set-up mobile boticas where people can have access to affordable
medicines.

Street Dwellers
• Proactively search, identify, and rescue street dwellers in all LGUs.
• Provide temporary shelter for street dwellers where they are found.
• Provide the necessary physiological support systems such as food, rest
and comfort areas, and medicines/first-aid kits in temporary shelters.
• Conduct individual medical check-ups and health assessments among
street-dwellers and observe the proper medical protocols for those
who are deemed suspect, probable, and confirmed.
• PPE, social distancing, sanitation, and disinfection must also be made
available for ready use.
• LGUs must explore the possibility of recruiting/engaging healthy street
dwellers to become productive members of the community by making
them a part of either the Barangay Health Response Teams (BHRTs) or
the LGU’s livelihood program initiatives.

4. Promote transparency, accountability, and citizen’s participation

Create a Monitoring and Evaluation Group composed of members of civil

society, the academe, and other stakeholders that will work closely with the Inter-
Agency Task Force (IATF). Recognizing the crucial role of civil society and the
academe in enhancing the participation of communities and in ensuring
accountable and transparent governance, this body shall help monitor, verify,
and evaluate the implementation of the SAP and other COVID-19-related

programs. It can also function as an independent feedback and complaints

mechanism at the local and national levels working closely with the LGUs, DILG,
DSWD, among others.

There must be regular and public access to data that is easily comprehensible to
help gauge the effect and impact of various programs on citizens and vulnerable
groups. Both national and local decisions relating to modified or enhanced
lockdowns must be accompanied by clear and transparent communication to
gain the much-needed trust and cooperation from all community members.
Individuals, families, and communities all have a role to play in protecting
themselves and in making sure that strength is forged in unity and in having a
common goal understood by everyone.

LGUs should provide accurate, timely, and accessible information to their

constituents on basic health and other medical and community updates related
to the pandemic. Putting in place feedback and grievance mechanisms, including
regular consultations with community residents and community-based
organizations, is encouraged.

Civil society is a significant partner in the actual provision of humanitarian services

and has the capacity to harness resources and provide expertise in the crafting
of policies and guidelines that will promote the well-being of vulnerable groups
and sectors. Humanitarian workers in the frontline expedite the provision of
services and should partner with government agencies as already practiced with
the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Initiatives of humanitarian
organizations, civil society, and the academe should be supported by
government agencies at all levels, particularly in the granting of permits to
undertake humanitarian efforts, solicitation of resources, and ensuring mobility
and access to critical areas. Representatives from civil society and the private
sector should be included as members of policy-making bodies at all levels.

Humanitarian crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic expose the most vulnerable
members of our society to disproportionate suffering, harm, loss, and risks to
their lives. It is crucial that these be mitigated without delay. These

recommendations, offered in a spirit of public service and love of our country

and people especially in these most perilous times, are forwarded with the hope
that they will merit serious and urgent attention. In the various efforts to
transcend this national crisis, we must persist in ensuring that no one is left
behind.

Acknowledgments: We recognize the valuable contributions of the following to

this Policy Note: Center for Inclusive Policy (Persons with Disabilities); Coalition
for Services of the Elderly (Older Persons); Homenet Philippines (Workers in the
Informal Economy); Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan
(Workers in the Informal Economy); Social Watch Philippines.

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