Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic in the Livelihood of Ilonggos

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 1 is composed of five parts: (1) Background of the Study; (2) Statement of the

Problem; (3) Significance of the Study; (4) Scope and Limitation of the Study; and (5) Definition

of Terms.

Part One, Background of the Study, describes the origin of the study and discuss the

reasons for conducting the research.

Part Two, Statement of the Problem, states the objectives and purpose for conducting

the study.

Part Three, Significance of the Study, states the objectives and purpose for conducting

the study.

Part Four, Scope and Limitation of the Study, defines the limit of the study in terms of

the respondents, treatments done, and instruments used.

Part Five, Definition of Terms, presents the conceptual and operational meaning of some

important terms used in the study.

 Background of the Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2

virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness

and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and

require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like

cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to

develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at

any age.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and

presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The

economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of

people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people,

currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the

year.

Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion

global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Informal economy workers are

particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health

care and have lost access to productive assets. Without the means to earn an income during

lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. For most, no income means

no food, or, at best, less food and less nutritious food.

We must rethink the future of our environment and tackle climate change and

environmental degradation with ambition and urgency. Only then can we protect the health,
livelihoods, food security and nutrition of all people, and ensure that our ‘new normal’ is a

better one.

Thus, the researchers’ will conduct this study to reveal the real situations of Ilonggos

about the impact of Covid-19 in their livelihood.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to know the impacts Covid-19 in the livelihood of Ilonggos.

Specifically this study sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the difficulties encountered by the Ilonggos in times of Covid-19?

2. What livelihood of the Ilonggos are the most affected?

3. What strategies did they employ to cope with the problems encountered?

Significance of the Study

The benefits that derived from the outcome of this research work are the following:

Ilonggos. It could provide the people of Iloilo with useful information on different

problems they are going to face during pandemic and to make them prepared to overcome

those difficulties and it could make the Ilonggos to be aware of what the pandemic demands

and what it takes to be a strong individual to face with the impact of the pandemic.

Local Government. It enables the supervision and local government employees to know

the various problems that the Ilonggos’ face during Covid-19 pandemic. The study provide
knowledge that help local government unit in times of pandemic in the improvement of

practices and policies specifically in terms of the livelihood sectors

National Government. They would be aware of the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic in the

lives of Filipino people. This would enable them to provide lasting and effective solution to those

problems in order to improve the quality of economic and livelihood programs and to ensure the

welfare of each and every Filipino in times of pandemic.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study will be conducted during the free time of the researchers. The respondents

will be the Ilonggos who are affected the most by the impact of Covid-19 in their livelihood.

Researcher-made questionnaire will be used to gather data from the respondents. Guidelines

for ethics and confidentiality will be used to protect the respondents.

Definition of Terms

To make this study meaningful, the following terms were conceptually and operationally

defined:

Covid-19. It is caused by a highly infectious virus, and it has spread throughout the

world. Most people get mild to moderate illness. Older adults and people with certain health

conditions are at high risk for severe illness and death. ( Medical Encyclopedia → Coronavirus

disease, 2019)

As used in this study, “Covid-19” refers to the pandemic experienced by the Ilonggos

and the people around the world that causes millions of death.
 Pandemic. A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or

the world at a particular time. (Oxford Languages Dictionary, 2023)

As used in this study, “pandemic” refers to Covid-19 that affects the most, the livelihood

of Ilonggos.

Livelihood. It is a means of supporting one's existence, especially financially or

vocationally. (https://www.dictionary.com)

As used in this study, “livelihood” refers to the set of activities of the Ilonggos to provide

the necessities of their daily lives.

Ilonggos. It refers to the people and the culture of the Malay race identified with Iloilo.

(https://www.yodisphere.com)

As used in this study, “Ilonggos” refers to the people of Iloilo who experienced the

impact of Covid-19 in their livelihood.