THE EFFECT OF COVID - 19 AMONG RESTAURANTS IN

TACLOBAN CITY DOWNTOWN TO COPE UP WITH THE

“NEW NORMAL”

A Research Paper

Presented to

Mrs. Eva Elena O. Macayan

ACLC College

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements in Business Research

Bachelor in Science in Business Administration

By:

Joyce A. Eguia

Mark Ian Esperas

Mae Belle D. Mate

Scott Rencely T. Cordova

Wayner Evans P. San Miguel

 Acknowledgements

First and foremost, the researcher would like to thank God, the Almighty, for

His showers of blessing throughout our research work to complete the research

successfully.

The researcher would also like to express their sincerest gratitude to their

adviser, Mrs. Eva Elena O. Macayan for her continues support in their research, for

her patience, motivation and immense knowledge. Her guidance helps them

throughout their research.

To their parents, who have continuously supported them financially to

accomplish this study and for their guidance, encouragement and inspiration to them

throughout their lives, a very special thank you for parental presence and constant

guidance to them.
 Table of Contents

Title page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
List of Tables and Figures

CHAPTER I
Review of Related Literature
Synthesis of the Review
Conceptual Framework
Hypothesis of the Study
Definition of terms
Scope and of Limitation
Significance of the Study

CHAPTER II
Research Method/ Design
Participants
Instrument
Procedure
Data Analysis

CHAPTER III
Significance Research Result
Discussion
 CHAPTER I

Review of Related Literature

The Emergence of a Global Pandemic

Exactly three years ago, a human catastrophe in a form of a virus affected the

lives of billions of people. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was a deadly virus that

caused a global pandemic. Countries were forced to prioritize the welfare of their

citizens, putting most of the resources into saving people from potential death

caused by the virus. (Najib, Rahman, Fahma, 2021). As a result, lockdowns and

strict health protocols were imposed, activities of the people around the globe were

restricted causing for the economy to go down (Meyer, Prescott & Sheng, 2021). The

unexpected crisis took a huge toll on the tourism industry, causing the restaurant

business to be widely affected. Even though restaurant owners have faced and

overcome numerous crises in previous years, the COVID-19 pandemic had severe

impacts that had never been seen in modern times. For the first time in history, a

crisis is threatening to put all types of restaurants' futures in jeopardy. (Madeira,

Palrao, & Mendes, 2020).

Government Policies during Covid-19 Pandemic

Public policy is a term used to describe a direction, course of action, or

decision made in advance by a government entity to start a certain activity or course

of action. The government had made announcements regarding efforts to lower the

risk and shield citizens from contracting COVID-19. The majority of the laws are

consistent from nation to nation, such as the lockdown law that prohibits individuals

from leaving their areas between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM, forbids traveling to

neighboring provinces without authorization, and only allows takeout from

restaurants (Cortez & Johnson, 2020)

Crisis Management of Restaurants

While restaurants around the world continuously adopt to the new normal

brought by the pandemic, it is worth asking what restaurants themselves did to

address the challenges associated with the crisis. To boost revenue, some

restaurants urged customers to purchase gift cards. In order to pay the salaries of

the workers, restaurants have begun to engage in crowdfunding initiatives. To

maintain some cash flow, several restaurants have switched their dine-in businesses

immediately to takeout, drive-thru, or delivery formats.

In order to continue their operation and to ensure their position, they adopt

new measures. These new measures are now considered the new normal. While

some managed to survive, others were forced to close down because they were not

able to adapt to the changes that were imposed (DiPietro, 2020).

Post Pandemic: The Problems faced by the Restaurant Industry

Due to the lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the government, the

restaurant industry was not able to operate normally. Leading for the industry to

suffer some setbacks. As we come out from the pandemic era, the world is

startingvto open again, restaurant owners are still facing many challenges on

operating their businesses in this "New Normal" set up. Starting with labor shortage,

the availability of workers is such a pressing issue that many restaurants are compelled to

operate on shorter hours and fewer days. The pandemic has also changed how people view

the restaurant industry. Additionally, ongoing trucker shortages and delivery delays have

slowed down the delivery operations at restaurants forcing some of them to change their

menus. People are now more dependent on technology than ever before thanks to

contactless payment options and internet orders. Restaurants offered increased discounts
as many consumers switched to online or app ordering in order to withstand the pandemic

and shutdowns (Occhiogrosso,2022).

The study of Hanway (2022), stated that restaurants, especially more upscale

ones, benefit greatly from the money that diners spend in eating inside the

restaurants. However, even though eating indoors was permitted, the willingness of

the people to eat out after the pandemic went down. It was because many people

feared being in enclosed areas with other people. Mandates, low employee

retention, and frequent lockdowns all contributed to the restaurant industry's

disastrous few years. Currently, in 2022, both small and major restaurant food-

service firms are still catching up on revenue and sales, and there is no assurance

that this situation will improve in the following year. Sadly, the ongoing COVID-19

mutation has caused countless resurgences of the pandemic, most recently with

Delta and Omicron. The restaurant industry has struggled to adjust to the

unpredictable fluctuations in coronavirus rates and has been compelled to make

long-term revenue losses a reality.

Synthesis of the Review

It was clear with the aforementioned related literatures that the impact of

COVID-19 pandemic to the restaurant industry was adverse. It was stated that there

are still restaurants who are struggling in going back to their previous states because

of the damage that the pandemic left their business. Some were able to survive and

some closed because they were able to handle the challenges thrown at then by the

pandemic. Restaurants still lack information on how to adapt to the new normal that

we are in.
Conceptual Framework

This presents an overview of the concept of the study. The figure consists casual

relationship. Phase 1 represents the independent variable and the phase 2

represents the dependent variable while the last figure represents as influencing

variable.

Hypothesis of the Study

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined conceptually and operationally to give readers

a vivid understanding of the study.

Strategy is a plan of action to achieve short, middle and long term desired

goals. In this study, it refers to the plans and actions of the respondents to cope up

with the New Normal.

Restaurant a business establishment where meals or refreshments may be

purchased. In this study, it refers to the respondents who will provide the information

needed by the researchers.

 Cope to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties. In this

study, it refers on how the respondents overcome the challenges brought by the New

Normal.

New Normal is a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a

crisis, when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to the start of the crisis.

In this study, it refers to the time and situations of the respondents.

Scope of Limitations

This study focuses on knowing what are the strategies carried out by the

restaurants in the downtown area to the effect of Covid - 19 among Restaurants in

Tacloban, City's Downtown to Cope up with the “New Normal” of Tacloban to cope

up with the pandemic and also the effect of and the new normal set-up.

The researchers would choose 5 restaurants as respondents mainly (Ochó

Seafood and Grill, Sal’s Restaurant Tacloban, Chew Love, Guiseppe’s, and

SOCSARGEN Grill & Seafood Restaurant) and these are the assumed strategies, to

increase sales and to cope up with the new normal, Going Online for Food Delivery,

Quick Response Code, Online or Call Reservations system, and Maximizing

Advertising Budget. The researchers will conduct a study to compare if these

strategies are being implemented by the restaurants, they could be restaurant

owners or employees.

Significance of the study

This researcher aims to know the effect covid 19 among restaurants in

Tacloban City to cope up with the new normal and the response strategies made by

the restaurants to adapt to the new realities brought by the pandemic normal. The
strategies that the researchers would develop from the perspectives of business

owners, employees and customers would help the restaurant industry. Especially,

that some restaurants are still having a hard time on adapting to the new normal set-

up. The findings from this study could help restaurants that are still suffering from the

effect of the pandemic. They could use the information to handle their business well.

Moreover, this study could help restaurants be prepared in case movements are

restricted again, since the restaurant management would know what to do. In

addition, future researchers who may be interested in conducting a similar study

could use the data and analysis that this research would provide.

CHAPTER II

Research Method Design

A qualitative research approach was adopted to explore the effects of the COVID-19

among restaurants in Tacloban city downtown to cope up with the “new normal” A

total of 10 -20 to be conducted with the restaurant management/ owners

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Madeira, A., Palrão, T., & Mendes, A. S. (2020). The Impact of Pandemic Crisis on

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