Philippine E-Journals

PARENT-VENDORS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON THEIR CHILDREN’S SCHOOLING

Ma. Teresa R. Gan | Marites B. Chan

 

Abstract:

This study used qualitative methods of research involving ten parentvendors respondents in the Toril district who were interviewed and selling food and non-food items. The responses of parent-vendors regarding lockdown life during the pandemic, the challenges they have to respond to about their small businesses, the dreams of putting their children in public schools, and their suggestions on how schools react to the pandemic are the focus of this study. Health protocols and the IATF guidelines were strictly followed in the study. While governmentenforced market restrictions may have led to reduced market functionality in traditional markets, some parent-vendors reported new informal behaviours, such as an increase in informal vendors and the repurposing of public areas as makeshift market spaces. Respondents suggested that most new vendors are recently unemployed or day labourers (e.g. motor drivers) who had recently lost their sources of income. Poultry items, beef, pork, cold drinks, and any other items requiring refrigeration were examples of goods that have seen a decrease in demand since the virus outbreak. Parent-vendors attributed this decrease directly due to community-held beliefs of possibly spreading the virus by eating these foods. Parent-vendors reported concerns related to practices of stockpiling, both by customers who seemed to stockpile items in anticipation of the COVID-19 lockdown. Parent-vendors gave their suggestions on how their children and schools continue studying while the pandemic rages on.