A Captive Collared Tiger: Challenges Faced by Sari-Sari Store Owners in Dagupan City during

the Previous Lockdowns

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of Research I

Mark Kjil C. Tayaba

Cazandra Mae Calimlim

John Henry Decano

Jan Rovic

Robin Gabito

Johlan Alfonso

Divina Grace De Vera

Angelika Perez

Mrs. Yasmin J. Envangelista

Research Adviser
 Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The world is currently experiencing a virus that has been said to have emerged in Wuhan,

China, and that continuously spreading throughout the world. This virus was named Coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) it's symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In

more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties (MayoClinic.org,

2021). Moreover, to prevent the widespread of the said virus, In March 2019, the Philippines

imposed its first virus lockdown throughout the country. These include; the isolation of millions

of people to their homes, shutting down public transportations, and closing of small and big

businesses(Gomez, 2021). Sari-sari store owners, as one of the small business owners that have

been greatly affected by the time that the government implemented lockdowns. It has caused

them a lot of challenges as they face the restrictive measures implemented by the government,

where some were not able to attain it, and that they were forced to shut their business. However,

despite the circumstances, their perseverance and determination for their family are what holds

them to continue what they are doing.

Furthermore, the Philippines’ pandemic lockdown was known as one of the longest, and

where 75% of the economy was shut down and brought the country’s economy into recession

breaking almost three decades of uninterrupted growth (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2020). In

addition, according to the firm survey of the National Economic Development Authority

(NEDA) did in April 2020, due to the severe enhanced community quarantine period, shows that

there were no sales and no operations during the Enhanced hard lockdown period of the

Enhanced Community Quarantine (Flanders Investment & Trade, 2020). Moreover, according to
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth that

indicates business closures and job losses due to weak economic activity has occurred during the

first quarter of 2020 (Rivas, 2020). The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also revised the

country's growth in the first quarter of 2020 from the initially reported -0.2% to -0.7%, and also

the Gross national income or the total amount of money earned by a nation's people and

businesses was also changed from -0.6% to -1.2% (Rivas, 2020). Due to these results, it only

shows that the business owners along with ordinary people were greatly affected by the

implemented total lockdown through the country; hence that the researchers want to know what

are the challenges faced by business owners and how were they able to manage it amidst the

implemented lockdown.

To be more specific, the researchers seek to gather data regarding the challenges faced by

the Sari-Sari Stores Owners in operating their stores amidst the Covid-19 pandemic during the

implemented lockdown measure and to understand how were they able to manage it, to be able

to inform others about the challenges, and difficulties they experienced.

To summarize everything that has been stated so far, after the implementation of the total

lockdown to the country, it is evident that it has greatly affected either small or big businesses

that it impacted the economic status of the country to collapsed. Sari-sari store owners, as one of

the business holders, were also affected by this implementation of the lockdowns. Where they

have faced a lot of difficulties or challenges just to be able to run their business. With their

experiences, the researchers will conduct it as a study to have a better understanding of their

situation and on how they were able to concur with it despite all of the circumstances.
Statement of the Problem

The Covid-19 pandemic has been affecting the country’s economy and creating intense

challenges for all businesses. The implemented lockdown measures in the first quarter for

controlling the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak had greatly affected small businesses, especially the

Sari-sari stores located on every street. In this situation, many sari-sari store owners faced

various challenges in operating their small businesses during the lockdowns in Dagupan City.

The purpose of this narrative study is to discover the challenges faced by Sari-sari store

owners during the previous lockdowns in the city of Dagupan. At this stage in the research, the

challenges faced by Sari-sari store owners during the previous lockdowns will be generally

defined as what challenges were faced by Sari-sari store owners in operating their stores amid

the Covid-19 pandemic during the implemented lockdown measures.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following research questions:

1. What kind of challenges do Sari-sari store owners experience during the previous

lockdowns in Dagupan City?

a. How sari-sari store owners affected by the pandemic?

b. What was the worst challenge faced by sari-sari store owners during the

lockdown?

c. What made it difficult for sari-sari store owners to make sales?

d. How did sari-sari store owners operate their business during the previous

lockdown?
 e. What were the changes that have taken place in the operation of their stores

around?

2. How would Sari-sari store owners describe the challenges they have faced during the

previous lockdowns in Dagupan City?

a. What are their perceptions?

b. How has their business been affected?

c. What were the strategic ways they have thought of to keep their small business?

d. What motivated sari-sari store owners to continue to operate their small business

despite the situation?

e. What have they learned in this situation?

Scope and Delimitation

This study will be conducted to determine and understand the challenges faced by sari-

sari store owners during the previous lockdown due to Covid-19. The aspect that will look into

will be the situations of sari-sari stores during the implementation of lockdown throughout the

country, and how were they able to manage it despite all of the circumstances. This study will

also limit its coverage to all sari-sari store owners, in which other owners from other barangays

were not included as for the safety measures for the researchers.

A total of twelve (12) participants of Sari-sari store owners will be used for this study.

The data gathering will be conducted via survey to the respondents, in which the researchers will

ask the respondents the same set of questions. After the data gatherings, the researchers will then

analyze and evaluate the data gathered. This study will be conducted within the timeframe of

June to July 2021

Significance of the Study

The researchers will conduct this study to discover the challenges faced by Sari-sari store

owners during the previous lockdowns in the city of Dagupan. This study aimed to inform others

about the situations of sari-sari store owners during the previous lockdowns, and will also serve

as a basis for suggestions in starting a business. The results of this study are going to be

beneficial to the following entities:

Large Businesses. This study will be beneficial for large businesses, in the sense that this

study will warn them about the effects of lockdowns on small businesses like the sari-sari stores

that could also happen to their business. This would also help them to learn from small

businesses about the strategic decisions they made in running their business.

Small Businesses. This study will also benefit small businesses, as this study will give

them knowledge about the strategies made by the sari-sari store owners in facing the challenges

bought by the disaster. This study would also help them to formulate precautionary measures in

fighting future disasters that their business may experience.

New Entrepreneurs. This study will also benefit New Entrepreneurs. It will provide

information on how to start a business even in this time of the pandemic. It will also enable them

to realize the risks of starting a business in a time of the pandemic.

ABM Students. This study will also be beneficial to ABM students, as this would enable

them to realize the importance of having a plan or strategies in starting a business. It would also
serve as a lesson for them to know the importance of having more skills and obtain more

knowledge about managing a business.

Assumptions of the study

The following assumptions were present in this study:

1. It is assumed that research participants in this study were not deceptive with

their answers and that the participants answered questions honestly and to the best of

their ability. This study will ask the participants about the challenges they faced during

the previous lockdowns, and that this study assumed that the participants will answer it

with the fullest extent of their heart.

2. It is assumed that this study is an accurate representation of the situation faced

by sari-sari store owners in Dagupan City during the previous lockdowns. The

researchers will make sure that the gathered data are accurate, correct, and validated and

was collected with no fabrication, falsification, misinterpretation of data and plagiarism

Definition of terms

For further understanding, the following terms were defined.

Coronavirus disease 2019. Is an illness caused by a novel coronavirus that is

now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; formerly

called 2019-nCoV) that most of the infected people will develop mild to moderate illness

and recover without hospitalization. (Cennimo, 2021)

 Lockdown. Is a security measure taken during an emergency to prevent people

from leaving their homes, and this also includes the shutting of transportations and

closing of all the businesses. (Cambridge Dictionary, 2021)

Pandemic. Is a disease outbreak that spreads across countries or

continents. (Robinson, 2009)         

Sari-Sari Store. Is a small business enterprise that is usually found in residential

areas, privately operated, often from a window in a home, that sells small quantities of a

wide variety of products. Sari-Sari comes from the Filipino term for variety. (Primer

Media Inc., 2016)

Sari-Sari Store Owners.  Is the person who is the legal proprietor of the business

sari-sari store. (Primer Media Inc., 2016)

References

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