STI College Caloocan

109 Samson Rd., Caloocan City

The Lived Experiences of Selected Family in Tonsuya, Malabon City Towards

Budgeting Before and During Pandemic

Members:

Acuña, Margaret Allison B.

Belasa, Rose Ann

Cañizo, Milbert B.

Chomi, Hanna O.

Delos Reyes, Arianne Joy V.

GAS – 101

Mr. Romel Coles

 CHAPTER 1

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Background of the Study

According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the

COVID-19 pandemic has triggered one of the worst jobs crises since the Great Depression.

Millions of people were furloughed or lost jobs, and others rapidly adjusted to working from home

as offices closed (McKinsey, 2021). Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people had to

work twice as much as they did before to be able to provide the same amount of income before the

pandemic.

In just a matter of few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned from a public health

crisis with no parallel in living memory into a major economic and job crisis whose full extent is

still unfolding (OECD). According to Investing in Women’s findings (2020), a total of 6 out of 10

families in the Philippines have lost income because of the pandemic.

Another research from the Commission on Population and Development stated that the

average Filipino family spends nearly half of its resources per month on food. This means that the

total family income is mostly spent on food and less spending is made for clothing and other basic

service necessities such as housing, electricity, water and other social services such as health and

education. Having said that, the possible decrease in income brought by the pandemic could have

possibly affected so many families in changing their budgeting practice.

 The researchers thought that the pandemic had made it extra difficult for people to receive

as much income as pre-pandemic situation. The difficulties in earning; jobs halting or pausing,

may it be from small to large businesses, employer or employee – had grabbed the interest of the

researchers to know how different exactly are the budgeting practices of the Filipino workers’

families before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement of the Problem

In this study, the researchers aim to determine the lived experiences of selected families in

Tonsuya, Malabon City towards budgeting before and during pandemic. This is to provide

understanding about their current situation amidst the pandemic. This research is done to ensure

that answers to the following questions are acquired:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents (parents) in terms of:

a. Name

b. Age

c. Gender

2. How does the Pandemic affect the budgeting practices of the selected Filipino

families?

3. What are the differences in the budgeting practices of selected Filipino workers’

families before and during the Pandemic?

4. Is spending more/less amidst the Pandemic purely their choice or are there any other

factors pushing them to spend more/less?

Scope and Limitation

The main objective of the study is to assess the lived experiences of selected families

towards budgeting before and during pandemic. The research will involve 15 families randomly

selected from Tonsuya, Malabon City. In this study, the researchers will conduct semi-structured

interviews with the families to obtain needed data. In this study, the researchers will conduct semi-

structured interviews with the families by the use of convenience sampling method to obtain

needed data.

Significance of the Study

This research will be conducted to determine what changes have occurred in the lived

experiences of selected family in Tonsuya, Malabon City with regard to budgeting before and

during the pandemic – in order to learn more and be aware of the pandemic’s massive financial

impact. The following sectors will benefit from the research:

Families. The research will benefit the families in several ways. First, it will increase their

awareness about other families having the same problem they are facing; declining of income. In

this case, they’ll be able to speak up and be heard by the authorities. Second, this study could also

be a way to properly explain what exactly is the situation before and during the pandemic for

families that have lost income – where some struggled to budget the amount of money they have

because of the sudden downturn of income. Lastly, this may also show how the families adapt to

changes in terms of handling their money – since budgeting before and during pandemic could

have helped them recognize what is needed and is unnecessary in spending.

Government. The research will benefit the government in a sense that, they would know

and understand what do Filipino families need at times like the pandemic. This would also help
them improve their service. In addition to that, this would allow them to be involved with creating

a much better and convenient living for the Filipino families despite being in a pandemic.

Future Researchers. The findings of this study will contribute to a greater understanding

and awareness of the difference between before and during the pandemic budgeting of Filipino

families. This research will also assist them with their future research and would allow them to

share knowledge that would eventually act as a help for the betterment of existing and future

communities.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are used all throughout the research process and are defined

operationally below:

Pandemic – an outbreak of a pandemic disease.

Budgeting Practices – way or process of budgeting

Insight – the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.

Halt – bring or come to an abrupt stop.

OECD – Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Downturn – a decline in economic, business, or other activity.

Convenient – fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans.

Betterment – the act or process of improving something.

Furlough - grant leave of absence to.

 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the researchers’ thorough and in-depth search of related studies and

literature as the research was being conducted. This will also present the synthesis and the

theoretical and conceptual frameworks to fully understand the research to be done.

Foreign Studies

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development et al. (2020), stated that the

COVID-19 pandemic has turned from a public health crisis with no parallel in living memory into

a major economic and jobs crisis whose full extent is still unfolding. The unfolding pandemic led

to a major “supply shock” as international supply chains were interrupted, workers got sick, were

quarantined or subject to lockdowns and companies found themselves unable and, in some cases,

forbidden to operate. Despite an unprecedented policy response by governments and central banks,

increased uncertainty, the decline in household incomes and mandated or self-imposed physical-

distancing measures led to a drop in investment and consumption. This quickly turned what was

initially a “supply shock” into a “demand shock”, putting further pressure on companies.

Another study from Bureau of Labor Statistics et al. (2020), found out that self-employed

workers were much more likely than private wage and salary workers and government workers to

have been unable to work because of pandemic-related closures or lost business. About 27 percent
of the self-employed in July were unable to work because of the pandemic, compared with 11

percent of private wage and salary workers and 6 percent of government workers.

Local Studies

According to The World Bank (2020), at the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the

Philippine government introduced a large-scale social protection program while placing the

country on strict community quarantine. With the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the government

provided emergency subsidies under the Social Amelioration Program or SAP. Some 18 million

poor and vulnerable households, comprising 70 percent of the population, were covered by the

program. SAP beneficiaries included the 4.4 million households enrolled in the country’s flagship

safety net program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps or Pantawid), together with

other vulnerable populations such as informal workers.

UNICEF, UNDP, along with Economic Policy Research Institute and many other

collaborators (pg. 16-17, 2020), have found out that according to the official data from the Labor

Force Survey, COVID-19 led to a significant decrease in employment though employment

rebounded slightly after the relaxation of ECQ. According to the Labor Force Survey,

unemployment increased from 5.4 percent in July 2019 to 17.7 percent in April 2020 but then

decreased to 10 percent in July 2020 and 8.7 percent in December. Additional to that from the

same research of UNICEF and its partners, data from UNDP for NCR and Cebu show even larger

effects on income. In May, UNDP found out that 83 percent of respondents to their survey in NCR

and Cebu faced decrease in income, with 40 percent of respondents having lost all income. By

September, income amongst households in this sample had recovered somewhat with only 25

percent of respondents having lost all income. These results suggest that either the impact of the
crisis on employment was larger in NCR and Cebu or that working adults who retained their jobs

faced a decline in earnings (or both).

Foreign Literature

According to Ajzerle (2013), Budgeting abilities are linked to the ability to manage

personal finances. If a person is able to overcome personal financial problems, he is said to have

good financial literacy. Schramm (2020), wrote on her article that the COVID-19 has had an

impact on the flow of money in most households. According to a recent report by IRI, an

international market research firm, despite a dramatic increase in grocery spending during the early

weeks of the pandemic, Americans are still spending more on groceries than they did a year ago,

owing in part to the fact that they are eating most meals at home.

According to McKnight and Rucci (2020), Budgeting can assist you and your family in

taking the first step toward financial control. It can also assist you in avoiding debt. And it allows

you to spend more time enjoying family life rather than worrying about your finances. Budget

planners and savings calculators can also help you stay on top of your family budget. Many simple,

free budget planners can be found online. Tymkiw (2021), "The pandemic has reminded us of the

importance of having a budget," says James Boyd. "Knowing where your money is going can help

you separate needs from wants and shift more toward necessities." Likewise, that may be easier

said than done for some. "The pandemic had a wide range of effects," says Brian O'Leary, wealth

advisor and senior analyst at Aline Wealth. "The main lesson is that circumstances can change

very quickly."
Local Literature

According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia (2018), the Filipino

monthly budget, after the National Economic and Development Authority received flak after it

was misquoted for supposedly claiming that a family of five needs P10,000 to survive each month,

the agency clarified that P42,000 would be the estimate for a decent-enough living and not simply

for survival. Two family members would need to each earn at least P21,000 per month under the

estimated figure to have a rather comfortable lifestyle, noted Ernesto Pernia, the country’s

socioeconomic planning secretary. Pernia said, however, that P42,000 is not an official figure by

his agency. “That number was just top of mind,” he said. He also explained that NEDA

Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon used P10,000 as an example before since the figure is easier to

multiply with other numbers to see an estimated effect of the rising inflation rate. Considering

Pernia’s unofficial estimated budget of P42,000 per month, a family of five can have some extra

fund amounting to P3,000.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the proportion of poor Filipinos in

the first semester of 2021 was 23.7 percent. The poverty incidence among the population in the

first semester of 2021 was expected to be 23.7 percent, meaning the proportion of poor Filipinos

whose per capita income is insufficient to fulfill their basic food and non-food needs in Pandemic.

In the first semester of 2021, this amounts to 26.14 million Filipinos living below the poverty line,

which is expected to be Php12,082 per month for a household of five. For the same period, the

average monthly food threshold for a family of five was estimated to be Php8,393.

The poverty rate among families in the first semester of 2021 was expected to be 18.0

percent, or 4.74 million poor households. Meanwhile, in the first semester of 2021, the subsistence
incidence among families was reported to be 7.1 percent, or roughly 1.87 million food insecure

families.

Theoretical Framework

This research is supported by the developed JD-R (Job Demand-Resources) Model in 2006

by researchers: Arnold Bakker and Evangelia Demerouti. In this theory, job demands are the

physical or emotional stressors in your role. These include time pressures, a heavy workload, a

stressful working environment, role ambiguity, emotional labor, and poor relationships. Job

resources (job positives) are the physical, social or organizational factors that help you to achieve

goals and reduce stress. They include autonomy, strong work relationships, opportunities for

advancement, coaching and mentoring, and learning and development. This theory is truly relevant

to the study as the theory states that when job demands are high and job positives are low, stress

and burnout are common.

Given its definition, the researchers thought that the ongoing pandemic had made

everything harder – especially earning and still being able to work for your family. Many

companies were forced to cut off employees, which made the ‘job demand’ from the theory higher.

People had a harder time to find new jobs; success in employment as companies are now needing

lesser employees. With that, these companies will automatically choose someone who’s capable

of the job and are possessing greater skills among many others. Now with the current situation, the

theory is suitable to this study as it can be inferred that lesser jobs creates not only more demand

in work, but also creates struggle with budgeting.

Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

A. Parent's personal A. Semi-structured A research-based
profile (Name, Age, interviews via Google answer to ‘The Lived
Gender) Forms or Face-to-face Experiences of
B. Parent's budgeting interviews Selected Family in
practices, viewpoints Tonsuya, Malabon
B. Consolidation of
amidst the pandemic, City Towards
and possible changes in
respective responses
Budgeting Before and
spending During Pandemic’

Figure 1: Research Paradigm. The researchers will collect the demographic profile of the respondents

(name, age, and gender), as well as their personal budgeting perspectives. The researchers will also

collect budgeting practices, viewpoints on the impact of the pandemic on their budget, and the possible

changes in spending habits during the pandemic using semi-structured interviews conducted via Google

Forms or face-to-face interviews. Furthermore, the researchers will compile the responses of the

participants to create a qualitative look at the current state of budgeting practices of families in the

Philippines prior to and during the pandemic.

Synthesis

The review of related literatures and studies showed enough evidence that the Pandemic

had made drastic impact to many workers. The related literatures showed how employment rate

declined the past years with the ongoing pandemic, how it caused further poverty, and how it’s

affecting the lives of the Filipino families. The pandemic led the loss of jobs; unemployment across

the country as companies were interrupted by major issues: workers getting sick and quarantined.

Most companies were prohibited to operate. In this study, the researchers aim to investigate the

experiences of some families in Tonsuya, Malabon City on the pandemic crisis that has been going

on for years now. Considering that families; workers from NCR happened to be included to those
who had to experience losing all their income, the researchers wanted to also find out how are the

people from this area affected by the situation.

 CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the method of research used and the procedural details of gathering

data, the setting of the study, selection of the subjects, and the sampling technique employed in

the study.

Research Design

The research will use a qualitative approach to the topic, wherein the researchers will use

a questionnaire to be answered by participants for the semi-structured interviews. The qualitative

design will be used – as the aim of the study is to understand the lived experiences before and

during pandemic of the Filipino families, located in Tonsuya, Malabon City. Since the study will

include 15 representatives from different families – which will be interviewed regarding their lived

experiences; perceptions about the changes between before and during pandemic situation, it can

be classified as phenomenological qualitative research (phenomenology). The data to be collected

from the respondents will be used to assess the possible differences and similarities of situations

before and during pandemic.

Sampling Technique and Subjects of the Study

The researchers will collect data and information for the study using the convenience

sampling method under non-probability sampling. Convenience sampling is a non-probability

sampling technique in which the researchers already have access to potential respondents. The
researchers will conduct interviews for each representative/parent of 15 different Filipino families

in Tonsuya, Malabon City. Respondents must be free to express their opinions and have sufficient

experience to answer the survey questions provided by the researchers.

Instrumentation

The researchers will have to use google forms for the purpose of getting the participants’

personal profiles and a questionnaire as a guide for the questions that will be asked during the

interview to obtain the necessary data. The questionnaire will include open-ended questions to be

answered by the respondents. There will also be the voice recording. The researchers decided to

use voice recording for semi-structured interviews to be documented. It is the most important data-

gathering tool because it will serve as the researchers’ proof of the responses provided by the

participants. The gathered individual data will then serve as the researchers’ basis to form a

generalized conclusion on the state of the Filipino families before and under the pandemic

situation.

Data-Gathering Procedure

The researchers will first ask for the consent and voluntary participation of parents or

representatives of each family in Tonsuya, Malabon City. After making sure of the availability of

each respondent, the researchers will now proceed to start and conduct the semi-structured

interviews. The researchers will then explain what the study is all about before conducting the said

interview. The participants will all be asked the same open-ended questions and will be given

enough time and freedom to explain their answers at the comfort of their home. Video or voice

recording (depending on what they approved of and are most comfortable to use) of the

participants’ answers will store/document their responses which will be kept confidential and will
only be used for the purpose of accomplishing the study. When the data-gathering process is

finished, the researchers will now analyze and interpret the data. Finally, the researchers will of

course, assess whether the data collected provided answers to all the following questions under the

statement of the problem presented in Chapter 1 and have provided evidences of similarities or

differences of the families’ lived experiences before and during the pandemic.