RECOVR Philippines: Tracking the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Philippines Agriculture Education Financial Inclusion Governance Health & Nutrition Peace & Recovery Entrepreneurship & Private Sector Development Social Protection

RECOVR Philippines: Tracking the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Researchers

Shana Warren, Doug Parkerson, Elliott Collins

Abstract

Tracking how people’s lives are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can enable policymakers to better understand the situation in their countries and make data-driven policy decisions. To respond to this need, IPA has developed the RECOVR survey—a panel survey that will facilitate comparisons, document real-time trends of policy concern, and inform decision-makers about the communities that are hardest-hit by the economic toll of the pandemic. In the Philippines, IPA is working with the government to assess high-priority policy questions about households’ preparedness for distance learning in the fall, social safety net support, and the impact of the pandemic on remittances. 

Project Outcomes of Interest

Some of the key questions the survey aims to answer at the global level include the size and scope of the disruptions to government service provision, work disruptions and type of disruptions, whether and how households with school-aged children are spending time on education since schools have been closed, extent to which people are skipping necessary healthcare, identification of populations most at risk of skipping necessary healthcare. The Philippines survey focuses on health symptoms and care, COVID-19 mitigation behavior, education (with an emphasis on distance learning preparedness), work and income (with an emphasis on remittances), social safety net support received, food and market security, and financial health.

Key Findings

 

  • 62% of respondents say they stayed home most days or every day in the last week.
  • 64% of employed individuals have spent fewer hours working for pay/running a business/helping on a family business than they did in a typical week before the government closed schools.
  • 89% of households have received support from the government in response to COVID-19. Of those that are receiving support, 97% are receiving food and 45% are receiving cash.
  • 26% of respondents say they have had to limit portion sizes at meal times more than once in the past week.
  • Respondents cited lack of access to internet, devices, and learning materials as major barriers children will face if schools do not open in August and instead offer distance learning.

Link to Results

Full results presentation, blog post summarizing the key takeaways, and webinar (video recording) sharing the results and their policy implications

Impact Goals

  • Build resilience and protect the financial health of families and individuals
  • Build resilient and adaptable businesses and employment opportunities
  • Improve social-safety net responses
  • Improve women’s health, safety, and economic empowerment
  • Keep children safe, healthy, and learning
  • Promote peace and safety, and improve humanitarian response
  • Reduce COVID-19 transmission rates

Project Data Collection Mode

  • CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)

Link to Data Collection Instruments

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Au7YP4cjzE8lmeXDi_h7TXDFy46ZIhTgBnbHATCzfWE/edit#gid=0

Link to Public Data

https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/W7OBKB

Results Status

Results