Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

COVID-19 EFFECTS TO THE DAILY GRIND OF THE PEOPLE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

Jaypee Justin Duran

Najela Lindley Tamayo

Clark Nathaniel Gico

Glaydel Gloria Estrellado

Nevaeh Russiana

Colegio De Santa Catalina De Alejandria

Kyra Lynn Tubo

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Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Body

a. Negros Oriental before the COVID-19 pandemic

b. Negros Oriental amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

c. Coping and moving on

II. Conclusion

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WORKING OUTLINE

I. Negros Oriental before the COVID-19 pandemic

a. Location

b. Economy

• Economic History

II. Negros Oriental amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

a. Education
b. Tourism
c. Business
d. Confirmed cases and Death Trolls
e. Mental Health

III. Coping and moving on

a. International and Local Government Relief Goods

• International Aid

• Covid-19 beneficiaries

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Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

COVID-19 EFFECTS TO THE DAILY GRIND OF THE PEOPLE OF NEGROS

ORIENTAL

The Covid-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an on-going global

pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome

coronavirus 2. Coronavirus are a group of viruses that can causes disease in both animals and

humans (Felman, 2020). COVID-19 is a serious global infectious disease outbreak with nearly

550,000 cases and around 25,000 deaths worldwide. In the past two decades coronavirus

outbreaks have caused global concern, including one in 2003 with the Severe Acute Respiratory

Syndrome (SARS) and more recently in 2012 with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

(MERS) (Nambiar, 2020). COVID-19 can cause symptoms very similar to flu- fever and a dry

cough (the two most common symptoms), aches and pains, fatigue, and nasal congestion.

The methods used to collect data in this study are websites, books and interview. We spoke

with the students from different schools to see if there were any differences in their educational

systems before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and whether they were doing modular or online

class learning. We made sure there was no prejudice when we applied the procedure. We double-

checked and clarified our sources to ensure that we had enough data for our research. Our

information was obtained from experts.

This study focused on explaining the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic to the daily grind of

the people of Negros Oriental. Many things changed as a result of the Covid-19, from face-to-face

classes to modular or online learning, and many pleasant establishments closed as a result of the

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social distancing protocol, which limited people’s access to restaurants, theaters, arcades, stores,

among other things. All most all of us have experienced deterioration in our mental health.

How covid-19 influenced many aspects of our lives, particularly the tremendous impact it had on

us.

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Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

Negros Oriental before the COVID-19 pandemic

a) Location

Negros Oriental, Visayas, Philippines, a laid-back state in the southeastern part of Negros Island,

Surrounded by the adjacent Negros Occidental State, The state is a wonderful combination of

culture and modernization. The city of Dumaguete is the capital of Negros Oriental. The

government is also located in the city’s capital area. The paradises of Siquijor and Apo Island are

also in the east. Overall, Negros Oriental is further subdivided into 19 municipalities, 6 cities and

557 barangays. The seat of government is in the capital city of Negros Oriental. Although the land

is small, it is the most populous city with locals who speak Cebuano as their mother tongue. The

impact of Spanish colonization continues with its infrastructures and number of livelihoods. Roman

Catholicism, the dominant religion throughout the city, is most prominent in the city of Dumaguete.

Negros Island was formerly known as “Buglas”, a Hiligaynon word that means “to cut-off”. It

refers to the dark-skinned natives that lived on the island which was later on changed to Negros by

the Spanish invaders. It is considered as the fourth largest island in the Philippines and comprises

the highly urbanized city of Bacolod and the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental,

along with its corresponding outlying island and islets. Negros is known for being the country’s

leading sugar producer and exporter. Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tanon Strait

and Siquijor to the south-east. It covers a total of 538,553 hectares of land. There are three climates

in the province: tropical monsoon, tropical rainforest, and tropical savanna. In addition, the

province is outside of the typhoon belt.

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b. Economy

Negros Oriental, despite the tourist hub, it is still full of huge fertile land. The primary industry in

the state is agriculture; with primary crops such as rice, corn, sugarcane and coconut. Meanwhile, in

the coastal area, fishing is considered to be the main cause of living.

Negros Oriental’s economy increases in 2019 but stumbles in 2020. The Gross Domestic Product

(GDP) of the Province of Negros Oriental increased by 6.6 percent from 146.2 billion pesos in 2018

to 155.9 billion pesos in 2019. In 2020, however, the provincial GDP fell -5.6 percent to 147.3

billion pesos.

Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, agriculture, forestry, and

fishing, with 14.9 percent, and real estate and ownership of dwellings, with 8.8 percent, were the

leading industries in the province from 2018 to 2020 in terms of percentage of provincial GDP.

Despite the province’s overall economic performance declining in 2020, the following industries

grew: agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which grew by 8.1 percent; financial and insurance

activities, which grew by 9.6 percent; professional and business services, which grew by 1.2

percent; and information and communication, which grew by 2.0 percent.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which was founded by Republic Act No. 10625, or The

Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, is responsible for compiling and maintaining macroeconomic

accounts and indicators at the national and subnational levels, among other things. The Provincial

Product Accounts (PPA) are a technique used at the provincial level to measure the province’s or

highly urbanized cities’ (HUCS) economic performance over time.

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The PSA will release annual economic performance data at the provincial level for the designated

pilot provinces and HUCS. In 2021, the Province of Negros Oriental will be one of the PPA pilot

provinces.

 Economic History

A STATIC ECONOMY,1565-1850

Prior to the 1850s, the economic situation in Negros Oriental was not very advanced. The lack of

roads and permanent buildings indicates poor economic conditions. Native planted just enough

palay, potatoes, corn and other root vegetables to meet their needs. The presence of many Negritos

was unattractive to the Spaniards who preferred to live in the larger and more populous areas of the

archipelago. Indigenous people peoples paid homage to forest products such as beeswax, rice and

honey traded in the 16th century, according to government reports in the early 19th century. The

Negros gold mentioned in early reports did not come true. According to Pedro Sanz, “The Island is

in the most scandalous misery, misery and poverty are due to people’s negligence and laziness.”

Overall, Negros, was a disappointment to the Spaniards from the beginning.

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Negros Oriental amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

a. Education

The public health crisis brought on by the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a

significant impact on the Philippines' educational system. Due to the pandemic, the government in

Dumaguete has stated that schools will be closed until the end of the academic year, with lessons

continuing via online learning. The majority of students and several professors demanded a Mass

Promotion option, while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) disagreed, but offered the

"No Failing Grades" option as an alternative. The school administration of Negros Oriental State

University (NORSU) recently proposed and implemented No Failing Grade through NORSU

Advisory No. 5 or "Resumption of the Second Semester AY 2019-2020" issued on April 30, 2020.

Sections 2 and 4 of this advise, on the other hand, say that "NO in-person classes (conventional

face-to-face classroom setup) shall be undertaken" and that students are no longer expected to

return to school for the second semester.

With this, no mass promotion is required, but no failing grades shall be assigned to a student

for the present semester, during which all students are required to complete one major test

and one take-home requirement for the remainder of the semester."Despite the

administration's memorandum, most of the Students is divided on whether this is fair and

just to all Norsunian students because some students have put in less effort during regular

classrooms. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy, suitability, and applicability of the "No

Failing Grade" recommendation using survey questionnaires completed by undergraduate

students at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and classify it based on their degree

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of recommendation, as well as how these factors will affect students' learning in the coming

school year. We conducted a survey by interviewing students from different school and we

let them answer this question.

Question: as a student, is there any significant change of the educational system during

pandemic?

A Student from Dumaguete city school stated that "There are many changes in our school

such as a limit on face to face and online classes. As well as staying at home and answering

module made by our school to adapt the pandemic situation and still be able to give us a

chance to learn."

While a student from Silliman University stated that the significant change of their

educational system is the shift to online learning. It increased student apathy and less

interaction to people.

A student from Colegio De Santa Catalina de Alejandria also stated that “Since the

pandemic started, studying at home gives us difficulty in learning because sometimes

household chores and other things make us distracted. The Internet connection is also slow.

It pressured us and at the same time excites us because we are in a new normal education in

the Philippines.

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- While face-to-face classes were still prohibited in 2021 owning to the COVID-19

epidemic, this did not prevent the provincial government from implementing programs,

projects, and other activities in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

The 2021 Special Education Fund of some PHP34 million was allocated for various

projects, including the hiring of 170 teachers from January to June 2021, and 170

administrative aides or utility workers for the same period.

The remaining balance was used to support the DepEd’s Learning Community Plan,

which included the procurement of more than 58 unit three-in-one printers, laptops, and

smart television sets, as well as various agricultural tools for donation to public elemtary

and secondary schools throughout the province.

The province’s medical scholarship program has eight post-graduate interns (PGIs)

undergoing internship and training while waiting for their licensure examination this

year, with a total of 746 impoverished but qualified students receiving financial help of

PHP5,000 each for the academic year.

The province has 35 medical student-scholars in the Siliman Univeristy School of

Medicine this year, with a total of expenditure of PHP6.950 million from the Gender and

Development Fund.

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b. Tourism

The province administration is gearing up to unleash full swing its tourism industry, one of

its primary sources of revenue and employment production, in 2022, despite the ongoing

global effort to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some tourist locations returned in 2021, with the national’s government advice and

approval, and in accordance with health and safety regulations so as not to jeopardize public

health.

This gave job opportunities and income to those who were displaced due to the pandemic,

Degamo said.

The provincial Tourism Unit has made “major leaps” in the promotion of Negros Oriental in

the national and international market by participating in the worldwide webinar of

promoting the best of tourism and culture of Negros Oriental, he added.

Other notable achievements in the tourism sector include the launch of the Dive-Dauin

Tourism Project, which saw the province’s diving industry reopened to national and

international markets; and the identification of a tourism circuit and loop under the banner

of 3F5 – the Farm, Fitness, and Food Circuit from Canlaon City to Bayawan City – by the

Provincial Tourism Unit in collaboration with the Department of Tourism in Region 7; and

the establishment of a tourism circuit and loop under the banner of3F5- the Farm.

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Without a doubt, the economy as a whole is on the verge of a downturn. Due to the global

pandemic influencing the flow of supply and demand in the country, several business

industries have slowed significantly. Nonetheless, many Filipinos may lose their jobs if

COVID-19 continues. Due to the shortage of financial resources, industries such as BPO,

tourism and aviation have laid off their staffs. Big multinationals may survive the present

economic downturn, but the micro, small, and medium companies (MSMEs) are absorbing

the brunt of the financial blow.

COVID has posed an unexpected socioeconomic danger to all countries all around the

world, causing a global crisis. Despite the fact that its impact is growing day by day, the

survival of its most vital industries is critical to avoiding economic catastrophe. With its

impact of COVID-19 on enterprises on the Philippines, it’s difficult moment for everyone.

Businesses, on the other hand, may rise once more if they had adjusted to the new normal

and have collaborated on post-pandemic remedies.

c. Business

COVID-19, a novel corona virus disease, has had a substantial impact on people’s lives

and business on a national, regional, and worldwide scale. The Philippines acted quickly

to limit the pandemic, implementing enhanced community quarantine (ECG) and

launching an emergency subsidy program with huge public spending to assist impacted

homes and businesses. The rigorous lockdown in the national capital region and high-

risk provinces lasted from mid-March until the end of May 2020, resulting in massive

economic losses. The Philippine economy has recovered six months after the March

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lockdown, but micro, small, and medium sized firms (MSMEs) continue to face a steep

decline in demand and earnings.

a. Confirmed cases and Death trolls

Millions of people have died as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has disrupted the

global economy and had secondary effects on livelihoods, education, and mental health

around the world. Although no country or economic category has been spared from the

pandemic’s direct effects, marginalized people are particularly vulnerable to the pandemic’s

indirect effects, which include public health measures such as lengthy lockdowns

On January 2022, health officials in Negros Oriental are urging residents, particularly senior

citizens and young children, to stay at home in order to prevent the spread of the

coronavirus illness 2019 (Covid-19), which has seen an exponential increase in cases in the

last three weeks. There has been no new COVID-19 case reported as of April 5th, 2022

according to City Health Officer Dr. Mariah Sarah B. Talla. Hence, there is only 1

remaining active COVID-19 case with 5,636 recoveries and 166 deaths since the city was

affected by the pandemic. So far, there are 3,679,761 confirmed cases and 56,365 deaths in

Dumaguete City.

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Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

b. Mental Health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent systematic review indicated that the general

public and health care professionals reported relatively high rates of anxiety, depression,

post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress. MICS in Asia suffer severe economic hardship

and little medical resources to maintain physical and mental well-being during the

pandemic. Individual conduct as a unit of society or a community has a significant impact

on the dynamics of a pandemic, including the intensity, flow, and aftereffects.

Self-isolation and quarantine are likely to have a bad impact on one’s mental health. Separation

from loved ones, loss of independence, boredom, and uncertainty, according to an analysis

published in The Lancet, can lead to a decline in an individual’s mental health. To address this,

both individual and community efforts are required. Both children and adults are experiencing a

range of emotions as a result of the current world scenario. They may be placed in an unfamiliar

position or environment that is possibly harmful to their health.

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Running head: COVID-19 EFFECTS

Coping and Moving on

a. International aid

One of the causes of COVID-19 vaccine in Negros Oriental is COVID-19 Delta variant. More

people in Negros Oriental are being vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 after health

officials urged them to do so (Covid-19). Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion,

incident commander of the province’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious

Disease (IATF-EID), said in a virtual press conference Monday afternoon that a total of 110,693

people in Negros Oriental had been vaccinated as of August 2, 2021. Rather than going through the

regional DOH-7 office, the vaccination supply was delivered directly to Negros Oriental.

Following the increases in Covid-19 infections in 2021, the governor stated that the province’s goal

is to reach full immunization of its target population by the second quarter of 2022. According to

the most recent data from the Provincial Health Office as of Jan. 3, 2022, 554,4445 people have

received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and are waiting for their second dose, while 345,345

people have been fully vaccinated, including those who were given the one shot Janssen vaccine.

The Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) serviced 21,651 in-patients from January to

November 2021, according to other health initiatives and achievements.

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b. Covid-19 beneficiaries

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are struggling with food supply and financial

needs. The Government of Negros Oriental raised a program called ‘Food Pantry Program’

where people can take enough food and supply for their family. The people and other

establishments of Negros Oriental did the same thing to what the government did. People who

are blessed enough opened a food pantry and gave those who are in need.

The DSWD supplies will be delivered to families affected by the ECQ imposed by the Negros

Oriental Provincial Government. About 7,790 patients received financial help from the

Malasakit Center, the provincial government’s assistance to individuals in crisis situations

(AICS) fund, and other senatorial funding sources through the Department of Social Welfare

and Development, totaling about PHP23, 370.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this pandemic has resulted negative impacts on the lives of the people in Negros

Oriental, which there are people experiencing health risks, poverty, and more. If this situation will

exist up to the nearest future generation, the issues and problems we saw today will not be

alleviated. People should know their responsibilities and follow protocols that are implemented by

the authorities so that this problem we are facing today will be reduced to low risk and move

opportunities. In the end, we are not just helping ourselves to be safe but are also bringing a chance

to everybody to start a new life and protect everyone to any harm.

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