Resilience and Recovery of Albay’s Food Services in the Post-Pandemic Era
Jason L. Abrera
Discipline: agriculture, food and related studies
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the food services sector across the Philippines, with localized industries such as those in Albay Province facing unprecedented challenges. This study examines the re-covery dynamics of Albay’s food services sector in the post-pandemic era using a descriptive quantitative approach. Business profiles were analyzed in terms of employee count, capital investment, and modes of operation (dine-in, take-out, delivery, catering), revealing a predomi-nance of micro-enterprises (77.05%) and limited capital resources. De-spite minimal government support, food service establishments demon-strated strong resilience through adaptive strategies, most notably, the adoption of advanced digital tools. The study found high uptake of e-com-merce platforms (94.26%), online delivery systems (81.97%), and uni-versal implementation of digital payments and marketing strategies (100%). Financial recovery was also bolstered by private loans (24.59%), primarily bank-based. Survey data indicate that businesses achieved full recovery across key dimensions including operational effi-ciency, customer loyalty, financial stability, and employee retention. These findings show the industry capacity for innovation and adaptation despite the institutional gaps. The study recommends for the continued investment in technology, instruction and assistance using digital tools, and improve online payment systems to sustain the growth and ensure preparedness against the future disruptions.
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