Although sari-sari stores and carinderias (small eateries) were supposedly exempted from total lockdowns, the micro retail sector emerged to be among the most affected in the situation, requiring a rehabilitation plan that should include a range of intervention measures to help them get back on their feet, according to a survey.
The Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO) said that results of their Rapid Assessment of Effects of the Community Quarantine on Selected Sari-Sari Store and Carinderia Owners showed the need for a rehabilitation plan that should include a range of intervention at different stages and types of businesses.
The rapid assessment survey was conducted in three rounds on selected PASCO members with the objective of gathering information to gauge the impact of the quarantine in their business operations and to determine how assistance can be designed and planned especially for the women owners in this sector.
The first survey was conducted during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) on a total of 442 selected members (385 sari-sari stores and 84 carinderias) across the country.
Survey results showed that during the ECQ period (March-April), 75 percent out of 84 carinderias temporarily stopped operations and 25 percent out of 358 sari-sari stores temporarily closed.
“The adverse effects of community quarantine imposed by national and local government units to contain the spread of COVID-19 have started to emerge as early as the week that the quarantine started,” PASCO said.
During this period, 49 percent of sari-sari stores and 38 percent of carinderias experienced difficulty in procuring goods to sell. Forty-four percent of sari-sari stores and 40 percent of carinderias reported downsizing their business by 70 percent to as much as 90 percent.
The rapid assessment also revealed that only 18 percent of the mom and pop store owners and 11 percent of carinderia store owners have availed of the Social Amelioration Program.
During the General Community Quarantine (June-July) where some restrictions had been eased, PASCO survey results showed continuing difficulty among micro retail enterprises.
Of total 368 sari-sari store survey respondents, 24 percent have decided to continue closing their businesses. Fifty-one percent of total 162 carinderias also decided to stop operating.
Although these rates showed improvements from the previous survey, PASCO said the number of retailers that experienced difficulty procuring goods to sell went up. Eighty-five percent of sari-sari stores and 82 percent of carinderias reported difficulty getting merchandize to sell.
The survey also showed that 39 of sari-sari stores and 44 percent of carinderias have scaled down their operations by 60 to 90 percent.
A higher number at 45 percent of sari-sari store owners and 57 percent of carinderias have accessed the government’s SAP.
“The effects are severe and far-reaching in national and local economic, social and political environments of the country. With this environment, all sectors (public and private) continue to find ways to cooperate and contribute in mitigating these effects. Efforts to plan for the resumption of economic activities, particularly rebuilding and/or rehabilitating businesses, big and small, should happen as fast as possible so that more Filipinos can go back to their jobs or set-up livelihoods. Unfortunately, the more than 90 percent of the country’s businesses are micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are vulnerable to these pandemic shocks. Hence, the rehabilitation plan/s should include a range of intervention at different stages and types of businesses,” PASCO said.