Poverty During Pandemic: The Lived Experiences of Lower Class

Families amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

SORIANO, ALBERT P.
DIAZ, BARBY MAIZE
ESPIRITU ASHLEY FORD S.
ANGELES, JUSTINE

Governor Juanito Reyes Remulla Senior High School

PR 1: Practical Research 1
Maureen M. Neri
SY 2020-2021
 RESEARCH TITLE AND TOPIC
Research Title:
Poverty During Pandemic: The Lived Experiences of Lower Class Families amidst Covid-19
Pandemic

Research Topic:
Low Income-Families: The situation and daily life of lower class families in the middle of the
devastating Coronavirus Pandemic
 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

Preventing transmission of the COVID-19 disease requires that we consistently exercise proper
health and hygiene protocols, both in our homes and in public spaces. Authorities have also advised
that we all steer clear of large gatherings, avoid using public transportation, follow “community
quarantine” measures, and seek prompt medical attention when there is exposure to the disease. While
all these are sound reminders, there is one glaring problem – the poor will not be able to afford to
follow these. Many jobs have no paid sick leaves. Irregular workers, including those who are paid on
a per output, takay, or pakyaw basis, are particularly vulnerable. Working from home is not an option
for all workers, as in the case of jeepney drivers and service workers. Crowding cannot be avoided in
mass transport systems. In crisis situations, poor women and girls are affected the most because many
of them form part of this workforce, but are still expected to do unpaid care and domestic work, which
only tends to increase when caring for sick members of the family (Adle, 2020).
The flawed response to the Covid-19 outbreak had immediately worsened the economic situation
of the country and profoundly affected lower class families, many of them lost their jobs and
eventually lost their source of income which made their life difficult to cope and survive. The wealthy
can retreat to their homes with adequate resources, while the less fortunate will have no choice but to
live on the streets and get caught by authorities for not following Covid-19 Protocols. Inequalities
among social classes have also been exposed by the pandemic which counts as a concern of this study.
The disparity between the rich and the poor—and the measure of privilege that both have, had
unfold in the occurrence of the coronavirus pandemic. The implementation of hard lockdowns forced
people to stay in their homes, but the lower classes had no choice but to leave and work or else they
will not make a living and provide essential needs for their families. The government should therefore
be more elaborative in implementing decisions to not to disregard low income households.
The Philippines is facing serious economic damages due to the coronavirus outbreak. It will greatly
devastate the lower class poor families and will increase the poverty rate in the country and may find
it hard to reverse and ease, this shall explain why this study must be conducted with urgency. The goal
of the study is to regard the privilege of lower class families as an immediate concern for the
government and requires adequate attention. The actions that may be taken to make the government
respond to this alarming concern is to provide them with the daily lives of low-income families amid
Covid-19 Pandemic, which may serve as proof and evidence for the urgency of this study.
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study focuses on seeking valid justification to uplift equality among different social classes in
times of local crisis. It will be conducted in the City of Cavite, throughout the year of 2020-2021. The
outcome of the study will be used as a premise for proposing a tactical resiliency movement to
overcome financial burdens and employment declination of the most vulnerable people in times of
pandemic.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

What are the coping mechanisms that lower class families may opt to do in times of virus outbreak
that eventually resulted in hard lockdowns?

How is the quality of life during the pandemic in the country?

How hard is it to live and afford daily living necessities with a very low income wage?

How do the government subsidies for affected families help during this crisis?
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study assesses and unravels the effects of Covid-19 Pandemic to lower class families.
This study is conducted all over the year of 2020-2021, with the use of a purposive sampling method
for the selection of 15 participants who are underprivileged and earns low income during this
pandemic. Families and people belonging to lower classes and have a little-to-no minimum wage will
be considered as participants for our study. The families or people belonging to the middle-upper class
will be inconsiderately excluded in the scope .
The information collection process will be heavily reliant on the researcher, interviewing and
interrogation process that will be used as an instrument for this particular research. The instruments
are utilized with the researcher by formulating topic-related questions, focusing on their coping
mechanism and response. The validation of the research questions and various variables
aforementioned will be supported by keen experts, to determine its effectiveness and relatedness to
participants. Implementing the ethical research standards1 of research, with assurance of the rules and
nature of research are frequently observed and regulated.
Data will be gathered from the subjective answers and responses of participants that will serve as
factual proof for the upcoming circumstances. The meeting of discourse between the researcher and
participants. If possible, the meeting will be carried out through an online virtual communication app
to be able to gather different views. The data will undergo deep exploratory analysis for the final
process.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of the study will provide deeper insights on the current struggles that lower
classes are overcoming, especially in this time of economic crisis.

The result of this study will be a great benefit to:

Underprivileged Children. This will provide sufficient information about the situation of less
fortunate children during the Covid-19 Pandemic that may force the government to respond to the
important assets of the country.

Low Income Families. This will serve as a voice to the poor, to gain adequate attention and
supplement their daily needs in insufficient conditions that will assist them to survive and thrive.

Philippine Economy. This may serve as a basis for the rising poverty concerns of the country that
requires immediate actions to prevent worse future economic damage.

Community. This may serve as a basis for subsidiary distribution. Enabling them to easily identify
the deserving in need.